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UNIVERSITY 
OF  PITTSBURGH 


./ 


MEMOIRS 


OF 


Allegheny  County 


PENNSYLVANIA 


PERSONAL  AND   GENEALOGICAL 

WITH  PORTRAITS 


VOLUME  I 


MADISON,  WIS. 

NO#TH-WESTERN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION 
1904 


Dar. 

CTa57 

M535 


INDEX,  VOLUME  I 


Abbott,  August 325 

Abernathey,  Samuel 213 

Ackerman,  Nick 311 

Albrecht,  Nicholas 262 

Alderson,  William 548 

Allebrand,  Charles  W 553 

Allman,  John  G 242 

Anderson,  Charles  A 206 

Anderson,  Charles  F 108 

Armstrong,  Elmer 156 

Armstrong,  John  H 76 

Armstrong,  William  B 442 

Arnold,  William  A 474 

Aston,  Walter 417 


B 


Bailey,  Samuel  G 462 

Bair,  David  F 559 

Baird,  George  H    546 

Baker,  Millard  F 419 

Barker,  Olin  G.  A      127 

Barnett,  James  E 502 

Barr,  Francis  X 77 

Battles,  John 430 

Beale,  George  W 483 

Beck,  Robert 347 

Bedell,  Milton 253 

Behen,  Dennis  M 502 

Beinhauser,  Louis 424 

Bekavac,  Bosiljko 220 

Bellingham,  Uriah 84 

Benham,  William  M 112 

Benner,  Thomas  M 146 

Berkenbush,  John 558 

Bernhard,  Charles  P 430 

Best,  William  E 505 

Bickerton,  James 286 

Black,  Alexander 82 

Black,  Howard  L 515 

Black,  Walter  R 121 

Bleichner,  John  A 64 

Boden,  Daniel 494 

Boden,  George  W 538 

Bohlander,  John  P 539 

Bollman,  Edward  W 421 

Bolster,  Peter 228 

Boothe,  Willis  A 465 


PAGE. 

Borgmann,  William 542 

Bost,  Frank 385 

Bost,  William 277, 

Botkin,  Lester  H 320 

Bowes,  S.  Cameron 383 

Bovd,  Samuel  F 245 

Bradley,  John 82 

Brady,  Nicholas  H 89 

Brieriey,  Robert 264 

Brinker,  Addison  J 215 

Brown,  J.  A.  A 54 

Brown,  J.  O 412 

Brown,  John  L 219 

Brown,  John  T 327 

Brown,  John  W 113 

Brown,  Michael  J 233 

Browne,  William  R    436 

Buckley,  Jeremiah  D 95 

Buente,  Henry  H 310 

Bullion,  John  J 160 

Burgoon,  J.  A 373 

Burkert,  Philip  C 392 

Burns,  Simon 30 

Burroughs,  Hamilton  S 57 

Byrne,  Patrick  C 90 

C 

Cahen,  Alfred 138 

Cahill,  John 451 

Caldwell,  John 32 

Callery,  James  D 438 

Calvert,  George  H 415 

Campbell,  Joseph 343 

Campbell,  W.  J 345 

Campbell,  William  W 130 

Carnahan,  Thomas  D 36 

Carnev,  Jeremiah Ill 

Carney,  John 103 

Carter,  Charles  G 116 

Chalmers,  George  B 94 

Chaplin,  James  C 370 

Chaplin,  J.  Crossan 364 

Chaplin,  John  H 359 

Chaplin,  John  M 366 

Chaplin,  William  C 360 

Clark,  lames  A 55 

Clark,  Robert  W   525 

Cluley,  Robert  E 4o8 


INDEX 


PAGE. 

Cochrane,  Robert  K 226 

Cole,  Orange  S 185 

CoUingwood,  David  F 78 

Conlin,  Milo  G 271 

Connor,  James   R 422 

Cook,  Lawrence  B 511 

Cooper.  Charles  A 176 

Corlett,  Edward  S 110 

Coulter,  Samuel 459 

Cox,  John  F 497 

Craig,  Hughs 509 

Craig,  Isaac 357 

Craig,  Robert  C 326 

Crump,  Stephen  S 552 

Cunningham,  Finley  R 485 

Cunningham,  Robert  J 130 


Dabbs,  Benjamin  L.  H 75 

Daggette,  Alvin  St.  C 179 

Daube,  Henry 548 

Davidson,  Henry  M 205 

Davis,  Carroll  P 489 

Davis,  Charles 37 

Davis,  David  L 163 

Davis,  Frank  B 470 

Davis,  Lewis  E 524 

Davis,  Ralph  C 491 

Davis,  Thomas  G 92 

Demmel,  Philip 432 

Deverts,  Charles  O 421 

Dickson,  A.  B 199 

Dickson,  James 199 

Dickson,  James  W 150 

Dierstein,  Frederick 282 

Dilworth,  Linford  L 461 

Dodds,  William 92 

Dolan,  Patrick... Ill 

Dorrington,  John  K 109 

Dorsey,  William  J 295 

Downey,  John 76 

Doyle,  Joseph  A 288 

Doyle,  Paul  B 190 

Dublin,  David  B 316 

Duff,  Davidson 398 

Duff,  John  M 251 

Duff,  Josiah  S 235 

Duffner,  John  B 221 

Dunn,  J.  C 528 

Duvall,  Samuel  M 91 

E 

Eckbreth,  William  C 272 

Edgar,  Thomas 463 

Edlis,  Adolph 53 

Edwards,  Frederick  W 53 

Eickemeyer,  W.  E 530 

Flicker,  Jacob 512 

Elphinstone,  James  A 52 


PAGE. 

Englehart,  William  F 175 

Erskine,  W.  H 535 

Evans.  William 519 

Evert,  Henry  C   441 

Ewing,  Robert  M 136 

Eynon,  Henry 71 


Faidley,  Elijah  P 296 

Fair,  D.  O 382 

Fairfield,  John 402 

Fairman,  John  A 214 

Fawcett,  William  G 337 

Fife,  Jared  B 535 

Fife,  Joseph  P 486 

Filcer,  William  J 312 

Fisher,  John  A 287 

Fisher,  Mary 128 

Fisher,  William 128 

Fite,  John 204 

Flood,  Edward  H 133 

Flowers,  George  W 134 

Ford,  Cornelius  F 108 

Ford,  William  A   217 

Fording,  Thomas     42 

Forrester,  William  G 299 

Forsyth,  Andrew   W 115 

Forsy the,  George  B 334 

Foster,  George  M 437 

Francies,  William  H 450 

Frauenheim,  Edward  J 80 

Frederick,  Frank  H 232 

Fullerton,  James  M 86 


Gabler,  Thomas  C 518 

Gailey,  Oliver  A 249 

Gaub,  Otto  C 258 

Gerdts,  Fred 507 

Geyer,  William 257 

Gilchrist,  Joseph  J 248 

Glenn,  William  J 448 

Glojnaric,  Francis 224 

Goldstrohm,  Charles  F 304 

Gosser,  George  W 97 

Gottfried,  Julius 371 

Grabe,  George  A 418 

Graebing,  John,  Jr 225 

Graham,  Thomas 508 

Granger,  Thomas  S 280 

Gray,  Alexander 210 

Gray,  James  W 208 

Gray,  William 559 

Gregg,  Edward  R 527 

Green,  James   H 395 

Grelle,  Henry 59 

Grenet,  Samuel  J 244 

Grierson,  Malcolm 98 

Griscom,  William  A 492 


INDEX 


PAGE. 

Groetzinger,  John 423 

Guffev,  James    M 46 

GuffeV,  Wesley  S 20 

Guiler,  William  G 513 

H 

Hamilton,  Amelia 393 

Hamilton,  Charles  A 557 

Hamilton,  Charles  W 151 

Hamilton,  James  B 33 

Hanlon,  Matthew  A 88 

Harkins,  Frank  B 220 

Harper,  James  G 425 

Harvey,  George  H 397 

Harvev,  Thomas  W 227 

Harvey,  William  H 493 

Haslett,  Edwin  C 375 

Hauser,  Henry 218 

Hays,  George  L 261 

Havs,  Joseph 123 

Heath,  Robert   H 317 

Heisel,  William 536 

Henderson,  John  H 35 

Henderson,  Robert  L 352 

Henrv,  John 159 

Henry,  John  C 456 

Hepline,  George  W 148 

Hering,  Frederick      387 

Hershberger,  Thomas  P 90 

Hill,  Lucius  L.  .    .  125 

Hill,  WiUiam 478 

Hilldorfer.  Joseph  P 411 

Hock,  John 229 

Hogg,  George  529 

Holliday,  George  L 18 

Holozsnyay,   Alex .    281 

Holtzman.  Louis  F 301 

Hope,  WiUiam  A 504 

House,  George  L 451 

House,  Jesse  M 501 

Hunter,  John  M 118 


Imbrie,  Addison  IVI 495 

Irwin,  James  H.,  Sr 260 


J 

Jastrzembski,  Stanley 196 

Jenkins,  Edwin  B 212 

Johns,  Harry  E 292 

Johnson,  George  A 140 

Johnston,  Edward  P 349 

Johnston,  George  C 526 

Johnston,  John  A 402 

Jones,  Evan 518 

Jones,  Jenkin 48 

Jordan,  William 184 


^  K  PAGE. 

Kambach,  George  J 125 

Kane,  James  F 138 

Kappeler,  Herman 237 

Kaufman,  WiUiam 114 

Keane,  John  H 230 

Kelly,  A.  J.,  Jr 489 

Kelly,  James  L 418 

Kennedy,  Joseph 305 

Kennedy,  Robert 487 

Kennedy,  Robert  B 376 

Keyes,  John  A 344 

Kimberlin,  John  C 289 

Kimberlin.  William  E 234 

Kimmey,  Edson 107 

King,  Henry  L  472 

King,  William  D 439 

Kintner,  Joseph  J 498 

Kirkbride,  George  T 541 

Kirschler,  Charles  F 70 

Kistler,  Jonas  M 313 

Klaus,  Nicholas  G .425 

Klumpp,  Frank  J 173 

Knoderer,  Charles  F 557 

Kraus,  Jacob  W 491 

Kuhn,  Arthur  J 499 

Kuhn,  John  E 198 

L 

Lambie,  John  S  24 

Lang,  William 424 

Lantz,  Jesse  S 303 

Latimore,  Willmer  A 259 

Latshaw,  Henry  B 389 

Lawrence,  E.  A 412 

Lawry,  James 276 

Lawson,  Lindley  S 279 

Lawson,  Oscar  P 323 

Lavton,  Robert  D 444 

Lea,  William  H.  H  183 

Leadbeater,  John 283 

Leader,  WiUiam  J 521 

Leslie,  A.  H 34 

Leshe,  Millard  F 79 

Leuschner,  Albert  F 543 

Levy,  Isaac  A 428 

Lewis,  Charles  A 513 

Lightenheld,  Gustavus  J 333 

LighthiU,  Charles  W 211 

Lindsay,  Robert  H 433 

Lindsey,  WUliam  T 69 

Linsley,  William  H 466 

Livingston,  Charles  L 457 

Lobingier,  Chauncey 509 

Locke,  Charles  A 124 

Logan,  William  H 155 

Lohrey,  Henry 427 

Lowe,  Harry  W 87 

Lowry,  John  K 510 

Lutz,   Anton 39 

Lynch,  Humphrey 434 


INDEX 


M 


MacBroom,  William 314 

MacCloskey,  Thomas  D 149 

MacMath,  Joseph 381 

Magee,  Christopher,  Jr 106 

Malarkey,  Andrew  J 341 

M alone, 'Robert  J.  H 101 

Manning,  William  G 223 

Marks,  Ulysses  G 151 

Marshall,  "William  T 433 

Martin,  Charles  E 470 

Martin,  John  A 436 

Martin,  J.   B 336 

Martin,  Robert  S 478 

Mattern,  Robert  G 141 

Maurer,  George 346 

Maxey,  William  S 144 

McAlinney,  John  J 102 

McCabe,  Francis  J 222 

McCabe,  James  H 182 

McCabe,  Joseph  E 481 

McCall,  Elliot 238 

McCaudless,  J.  Guy 38 

McCann,  Alonzo  N 469 

McCarthy,  Daniel  J 121 

McClarin,  John  A 473 

McClelland,  Robert  W 522 

McClure,  Thomas  G 63 

McCormick,  Richard 231 

McCurdy,  Steward  LeRoy 164 

McDermott,  Thomas 480 

McElhiney,  Samuel 315 

McFail,  Charles  B 100 

McGarey,  David  J 41 

McGeary,  Jesse  M 56 

McGovern,  Charles  C 85 

McGrogan,  John 378 

McGunnegle,  Daniel  K. 51 

Mcllvain,  Edward  J 208 

McKee,  Joseph  H 321 

McKelvy,  William  H 537 

McKenna,  Charles  F 64 

McKinley,  Wilham  C 58 

McLain,  Theodore  R 109 

McMasters,  James  V 443 

McNally,  John 234 

McPartland,  Frank  J 302 

Mead,  Morris  W 47 

Means,  William   A 74 

Mercer,  J.  Carson 55 

Merriman,  Thomas    560 

Metcalf,  George  H 298 

Meyer,  Albert  P 115 

Meyer,  Edward 462 

Miller,  Andrew  S 120 

Miller,  Harold  A 522 

Miller,  Harry  W 249 

Miller,  Henry   A 520 

Miller,  Jacob  Jay 374 

MitcheJl,  David  E 116 

Mitchell,  Joseph,  Jr 429 

Mohnev,  Coursin  L 239 


PAGE. 

Molamphy.  John  M 263 

Monahan,  Lawrence  P 145 

Montgomery,  John 269 

Montgomery,  Nathaniel 162 

Moore,  G.  Wash 43 

Moore,  John  W 391 

Moreland,  Thomas  B 81 

Morris,  Walter 147 

Morrow,  James  E 401 

Morrow,  John 338 

Morton,  Edward 545 

Muehlbronner,  Charles  A 44 

Mueller,  F.  W   73 

Mueller,  Gustave  A 256 

Mueller,  Michael  F 307 

Murphy,  James  P 431 

Murphy,  Marion  H 126 

Murray,  William  W 436 

Mustin,  William  1 40 

N 

Naylor,  Henry  B 531 

xNegley,  Henry  H 447 

Nesbit,  John  W 68 

Neu,  Emil  W 306 

Neville,  John 355 

Newlin,  William  E 139 

Noble,  WiUiam  V 335 

O 

Ober,  John  P 73 

Obey,  Gustavus  B 468 

Obushkevich,  Theofan  A 202 

O'Donnell,  Simon 240 

O'Leary,  Timothy 50 

Omslaer,  John 340 

Orbin,  Frank 442 

Orris,  John  M 284 

Orzechowski.  M.  J 550 

Ostermaier,  Robert 49 

Oyer,  Christian  F 119 

P 

Pagan,  Robert  B 388 

Painter.  Josiah 353 

Palen,  Gilbert 270 

Palmer,  Robert 496 

Parker,  George  B 122 

Parker,  William  J 413 

Patterson,  Fred  W 201 

Patterson,  Isaac  N 455 

Pearson,  Frank  C 434 

Redder,  Charles  J 85 

Peebles,  George  E 497 

Perrine,  J.  K.   M 166 

Perry,  Thomas 45 

Petty,  John   M 500 

PhiHps,  James  F 186 

PhiUips,  John 384 


INDEX 


PAGE. 

Phillips,  Mrs.  Robert 38-1 

Phillis,  Clarence  L 104 

Phipps,  Henry 17 

Pierce,  John 103 

Pirl,  Frederick  W 3U8 

Pitcairn,  Andrew  J 458 

Pitcock,  D.  M 412 

Pitts,  Arthur  B 319 

Prestley,  John  L 137 

Prosser,  Thomas 532 

Pruett,  Abner  B 246 

Q 

Quaill,  George  H 476 

Queck,   Harry  P.  H 297 

R 

RadcHffe,  John  N 482 

Ralston,  Benedict  S 268 

Ralston,  Samuel  H 266 

Ramage,  R.  H 471 

Randolph,  E.  N 437 

Reed,  James  H 423 

Reel,  Charles  C 324 

Reel,  David,  Jr 403 

Renshaw,  Thomas 464 

Reukauf,  Christian 379 

Richards,  George  W 551 

Ridgway,  Frank 60 

Riehl,  Leonard 547 

Rinehart,  A.  Walter 99 

Rinehart,  C.  C 255 

Ritter,  Horace  S 181 

Roberts,  George  L 116 

Robinson,  William 440 

Rodgers,  Arthur  D 117 

Rook,  Charles  A 21 

Ross,  Mansfield  A 169 

Ross,  William  S 250 

Rott,  Louis 273 

Rowe,  William  R 46 

Rowley,  Thomas  A 83 

Ruhlandt,  Charles  J 440 

Ruoff,  Frederick 454 

Russell,  James  A 291 

Russell,  John  M 480 

S 

Sachs,  Charles  H 97 

Samson,  Hudson 27 

Sarver,  William  H 453 

Saupp,  Frank  D 96 

Scandrett,  Thomas  B 197 

Schell,  John  E 394 

Schellman,  Frank  J 254 

Schleich,  Simon 243 

Schmitt,  Charles 267 

Schoults,  James  M 540 

Schreiner,  Edward 508 


PAGE. 

Schroedel,  Justus 416 

Schroeder,  Adolph  H 503 

Schulz,  Charles  A 278 

Schulz,  Rudolph 281 

Schulz,  Victor  H 318 

Scott,  William 490 

Scott,  William  M 158 

Seibel,  Harry  J 165 

Seifried,  Frank  J 157 

Shaffer,  Theodore  J 31 

Shaw,  WiUiam  C 177 

Sheasley,  Jesse  H 241 

Sherran,  James 59 

Sherrard,   R.  M 533 

Shields,  James  W 330 

Shoemaker,  James  K  P 293 

Shroyer,  William  F 332 

Siebert,  Peter  W 26 

Simon,  Charles  W 420 

Sloan,  John 556 

Small,  Edward  J 152 

Smalley,  Robert  E 545 

Smith,  Albert  Y 78 

Smith,  WiUiam  U 188 

Snaman,  George  W 348 

Sneathen,  Frank  F 467 

Snee,  Svlvester  J 473 

Soffel,  Jacob  93 

Sparr,  Emil 520 

Spicer,  Charles  A 247 

Staab,  Anthony 486 

Staler,  John  A 493 

Steel,"  Christian  D 172 

Steen,  WiUiam  J 57 

Steffv,  Walter  E 285 

Stengel,  George  H 96 

Stevenson,  William  M 460 

Stewart,  Joseph 339 

Stewart,  WiUiam  A 524 

Stone,  Stephen  P 75 

Stork,  Adam 212 

Stottler>  Sylvester 328 

Stouffer,  Benjamin  W 67 

Stowe,  Edwin  H 19 

St.  Peter,  Paul 51 

Strang,  John  Y 332 

Subasic,  Joseph 309 

Suter,  James  A 171 

Sutkaitis,  John 209 

Sutter,  George  L 196 

Szabo,  John 193 

T 

Thein,  George 400 

Theis,  George  W 88 

Theobald,  Charles  E 133 

Thompson,  James  H 153 

Thompson,  WUliam  E 29 

Thomson,  Henry  D 555 

Tonnele,  Theo 414 

Toole,  Stephen  J 119 


INDEX 


PAGE. 

Torrance,  Francis  J 445 

Torrence,  David  R 25 

Trautman,  Jacob 506 

Treacy,  James  R 479 

Tredway,  William  T 167 

Tressel,  Jacob 380 

Tschume,    Frederick 399 

Tunstall,  William 350 

V 

Vernon,  Joseph  A 550 

Vierheller,  Edward  C 77 

Voegtly,  Jacob  J 443 

Voegtly,  Nicholas  H 443 

Vogt,  Aug.  A 198 

Vogt,  WiUiam 534 

Vokolek,  Wilham 516 

Vondera,  Charles  H 517 

Vondera,  Christian  F 377 

Von  Moss,  Charles 294 

Wachter,  John 396 

Waite,  Thomas  C 252 

Walker,  Huston  Q 135 

Walker,  James  D 71 

Walker,  John  J 452 

Wallace,  Clarence  E 142 

Wallace,  John  1 426 

Walsh,  Wilham  F 100 

Walter,  Labanna  H 174 

Walton,  William  L 52 

Watson,  Robert  L 544 


PAGE. 

Watson,  Wilham  M 475 

Weber,  Joseph  A 322 

Weir,  Albert 549 

Weis,  Joseph 236 

Weller,  John  S 123 

Wiggins,  Hubert  P 274 

Wilcox,  Fred  F 195 

Will,  Silas  A.. 488 

Williams,  Edward  J 390 

Willock,  Curtis  M 143 

Wills,  Lafayette 224 

Wilson,  George  W 435 

Wilson,  John  A 484 

Wilson,  John  M 154 

Wilson,  Lewis  W 526 

Wilson,  Thomas  J 132 

Winters,  Anna  T 554 

Wolfe,  William  W 191 

Wright,  Jesse  H 463 

Wylie,  Daniel  W 189 


Young,  Annie  L 351 

Young,  Hugh 66 

Young,  Robert  C 351 

Young,  Robert  0 511 


Zahniser,  William  J 67 

Zimmerman,  George  H 386 

Zinsser,  Louis 162 

Zoeller,  William  F 203 


INDEX,  VOLUME  II 


Abbott,  Edward 410 

Abbott,  Walter  S 444 

Aber,  Robert  E 341 

Adams,  Thomas  B 267 

Addenbrook,  Thomas 107 

Alperman,  Frederick 38 

Alter,  W.  B 300 

Alter,  William  S 177 

Ambrose,  Parks  A 490 

Anderson,  John  T 220 

Arthurs,  Charles 60 

Atkins,  George  T 374 

Atwater,  Harry 276 

Auld,  David  W 476 

Auld,  V.  Arthur 30 

Austen,  John  T 498 

Ayers,  J.  Bucher 468 


B 


Baehr,  George   280 

Bailey,  Charles  M . .  23 

Baird,  Thomas  W 307 

Baldwin,  Edward  1 241 

Bame,  Jacob  E 355 

Bard,  Edward 471 

Barker,  Thomas  W 315 

Barndollar,  William  L 230 

Barnhart,  Charles  K 198 

Barr,  L.  O 440 

Bash,  Elmer  J    425 

Baxter,  R.  H 321 

Beattie,  Jeremiah  A 458 

Beattv,  Robert 335 

Beck,  Calvin 385 

Beck,  John  J 487 

Bedell,  J.J 72 

Beedle,  Evan 298 

Belsmeyer,  August 497 

Bennett,  William 108 

Berg,  Henry 194 

Bert,  Peter 174 

Bestwick,  Jacob 21 

Bew,  Wilham 327 

Bickel,  Christ  L 504 

Biehl,  Charles 213 

Bishoff,  Lowery  H 471 

Black,  Abram  H.  S 495 


PAGE. 

Black,  Francis  B 429 

Black,  R.  L     443 

Blackburn,  James  P 79 

Blackley,  Hamilton  Mad     130 

Blaynev,  John  S 287 

Blind,  Henry  L 357 

Blose,  Daniel  P 38 

Blumenthal,  Maximilian 211 

Boax,  Charles  F      472 

Bock,  John  N 450 

BoUje,  Theodore 57 

Boots,  E.  W 464 

Boss,  Gustav  A 524 

Bowman,  Daniel 394 

Boyd,  David  S 219 

Bovle,  Andrew  J 206 

Boyle,  John  C 266 

Bradshaw,  William  P 283 

Brandt,  Herman  P 522 

Brassert,  Herman  A  .  . . ._ 485 

Braun,  Jacob  J  ' 134 

Brennan,  John 272 

Brinev,  S.  A 363 

Brinker,  William  M 400 

Brinton,  Samuel  McG 251 

Brockman,  Thomas  W 193 

Brooks,  Lawrence  A 488 

Brown,  James,  Jr 40 

Brown,  J.  Wilbert 35 

Bruner,  Harrv  E 333 

Brush,  F.  S.."    463 

Bryce,  Charles  K 119 

Burkman,  John      197 

Burtner,  George 423 

Butler.  Robert 264 


Calhoun,  David  K 135 

Calhoun,  John  F 61 

Cameron,  Lewis  O 365 

Camp,  Oliver  C 413 

Campbell,  Anson  B 65 

Campbell,  James 88 

Campbell,  Joseph  L 112 

Campbell,  William  O 390 

Campbell,  William  V 95 

Carnegie  Free  Library,  The 244 

Carney,  David  K 337 


10 


lADEX 


PAGE. 

Carothers,  Joseph  C 494 

Carothers,  Robert  T 41 

Carson,  J  ames 233 

Carter,  John 37 

Chambers,  M.  W 493 

Clark,  Samuel  D 427 

Clav,  Rachel  A 243 

Clav,  William  H 316 

Clifford,  John  M 273 

Clifford,  Joseph  B 90 

Clinton,  William  J 450 

Coe,  John  S 414 

Cole,  George  H 282 

Coleman,  Andrew 501 

Conkle,  Robert  F 525 

Conner,  Alfred  D 212 

Conway,  David  M 406 

Conweil,  Stephen  C 158 

Conwell,  William 418 

Cook,  Robert  H 391 

Coursin,  B.  L     469 

Coursin,  Frederick  H 82 

Craft,  William  A 489 

Crawford,  E.  R 24 

Crawford,  Harry  B 39 

Crawford,  John  Jay 216 

Cribbs,  Fielding  D 116 

Cribbs,  Hyatt  M 115 

Cribbs,  Oliver  L 181 

Croft,  J.  A     439 

Crosby,  George  A 469 

Cross,"  John  C 254 

Crossland,  William 277 

Crouch,  William  H 319 

Crusan,  William  A 526 

Crytzer,  George  W 416 

Cunningham,  David  H 361 

Cunningham,  Joseph 361 

Cunningham,  William  H 386 

Cunningham,  William  P 352 

Curry,  William  L 464 

Czepananis,  Stephen  J 147 

D 

Dahlstrom,  Charles  F 26 

Datt,  Charles  T 351 

Daum,  Adam 330 

Day,  Joseph  R 172 

Dean,  E.  W 465 

Debolt,  George  S.  T 138 

De  Long,  Charles  F 63 

Denny,  John ...    152 

Dersam,  John  N 62 

Dexter,  Emery  E 54 

Dick,  George  A 526 

Dick,  John  A 432 

Dick,  William 434 

Dieterich,  Jacob 245 

Dinsmore,  Samuel  W.  S 200 

Dithrich,  W.  J 202 

Dittmer,  Emil  F.  A 204 


PAGE. 

Donaghy,  Joseph  F 195 

Donnell,  John  H 192 

Dougan,  Howard  G 501 

Dougherty,  Oscar  R 100 

Douglass,  Wm.  L 289 

Duerr,  George  H 228 

Duncan,  Archibald 42 

Duncan,  George    57 

Duncan,  James  W 86 

Dunlap,  David  D 261 

Dunn,  Joseph  C 437 

Duster,  John 164 

Duwell,  Charles 514 

E 

Eckert,  Ferdinand  C 523 

Edmundson,  George  L ...  20 

Edwards,  Elmer  M 236 

Einsporn,  Albert  342 

Ellerman,  Christian 269 

Ellison,  Ellwood  W 389 

Elwaruer,  Charles  C 380 

Elwell,  John  D 409 

Elwood,  Robert  D 238 

Emmert,  Peter  F 104 

Engelhardt,  J.  A 150 

Erhard,  Ernest  L 505 

Etheridge,  Harry    447 

Euwer,  Joseph  E 252 

Evans,  Oliver 506 

Evans,  William 74 

Everett,  Frank  M 443 

F 

Falkenstein,  George  J.  F 442 

Faulk,  Philip 364 

Fawcett,  Christopher  C 92 

Fawcett,  John  W 97 

Fawcett,  Thomas  R 321 

Fawcett,  William  D 84 

Fawcett,  William  L 464 

Fell,  Charles 479 

Ferguson,  John  A 160 

Ferguson,  Thomas ....  339 

Ferree,  Harry  W 529 

Fidler,  Joseph 32 

Fiedler,  Charles  P 459 

Fink,  Frederick 509 

Finnev,  Edward  C 507 

Fisher,  John  W 58 

Fisher,  Julius  K 467 

Firestone,  Henry 66 

Forsythe,  George  W 274 

Forsythe,  Lewis 271 

Foss,  John  M 504 

Foster,  David  A 77 

Friedman,  Henry 29 

Frver,  Amos 301 

Fulton,  Joseph  K.,  Sr 186 


INDEX 


Gardner,  Samuel  L 157 

Gardner,  Thomas  D 199 

Geeting,  John  A 73 

German,  William  J 55 

Gibson,  Robert  M 346 

Giles,  John 41 

Gillen,  John  H 133 

Gillespie,  Andrew 170 

Givins,  Albert  J 483 

Glover,  Anthonv  W .479 

Goeddel,  Charles 123 

Goldsmith,  Louis  J 137 

Goodwin,  Herman  W     176 

Gordon,  Ezekiel,  Jr 485 

Gordon,  Robert  W.,  Jr 94 

Gorzynski,  John  S 98 

Graham,  Norman  R 490 

Granger,  William  L 513 

Gray,  G.  E.  Frank 231 

Grav,  H.  W      448 

Greene.  Bennett  P 332 

Greer,  D.  Newton 109 

Griffin,  Hezekiah  C 460 

Griffith,  Joseph 248 

Griffith,  Joshua  N 155 

Griffith,  McKinstry 34 

Gross,  Michael 63 

Gross,  Otto  J 178 

Gundy,  Thomas  S 161 

Guttridge,  Charles  B 115 


H 


481 
440 
329 
371 
214 


Haber,  Louis 

Hallam,  F.  F 

Hamilton,  James  B 

Hamilton,  Samuel 

Hammer,  Michael 

Hammitt,  J.  Lewis 458 

Hanna,  John  W 234 

Hardt,  Henry 349 

Hardt.  John 438 

Hardwick,  Walter 478 

Hardy,  Daniel  M 50 

Hardy,  William 442 

Harper,  Cassius  M.  C 253 

Harrison,  George 121 

Harrison,  Richey  C 120 

Harrison,  William  R 38s 

Hart.  George  B 210 

Hartig,  Anton 234 

H  auer,  George  1 247 

Hayes.  John 128 

H azlett.  James  E 345 

Heath,  William  H 370 

Heckert,  William  H 348 

Heidenkamp,  Joseph   397 

Heile,  Peter 328 

Held.  Fred 90 

Hemphill,  John  W     404 

Henderson,  Harry  E 285 


PAGE. 

Herwick,  George  B 456 

Herwig,  William  K  .  .  .    457 

Hezlep,  William  W 238 

Hickev,  John 313 

Hieber,  Charles  J 375 

Hill,  Jabez  J 61 

Hinkel,  Fred  C 377 

Hitchens,  George  E 55 

Hodgson,  Jesse 144 

Hoffman,  Philip  L.,  Jr 78 

Hoffmeyer,  Charles  K 508 

Holinger,  Emil  F 462 

Holland,  Paul  R 217 

Holtzheimer,  Joseph  G 218 

Horner,  Samuel  J 398 

Howat.  William 106 

Huey,  Daniel 385 

Huggins,  Raleigh  R 314 

Hughes,  Benjamin  W 431 

Hughes,  John  A 438 

Hultz,  John 405 

Humphrey,  Walter  N     242 

Hundhausen,  Herman    138 

Hunter,  Orlando  M 50 

Hunter,  William  L 432 

Hunter,  William  L     484 

Hutchison,  Henry  F 179 

Hutchison,  Peter 208 

Huth,  Conrad 311 

Hynes,  Bernard  J 506 

I 

Irvin,  James  A 91 

Iryine,  J.  Q.  A    210 

Irwin,  Benjamin  C 196 

Ivory,  Peter 362 

J 

Jackel.  John,  Sr 71 

Jackman,  Andrew 353 

Jackman.  William 354 

Jacobs,  George 127 

Janda,  Valerian  J .142 

Jaquav,  Gideon  H 258 

Johnstin,  U.  Grant 503 

Johnston,  George  R 451 

Johnston,  James  L 383 

Johnston,  William  E 278 

Jones,  John  B 229 

Jones,  John  O 140 

Jones,  Richard  L 168 

Jones,  Thomas  C 52 

K 

Kapteina,  John 326 

Karns,  James  E 259 

Karns.  James  E 302 

Katchmar,  Anton  J 225 

Kazinczy,  Albert 477 


12 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Kelly,  Henrv  E 499 

Kelly,  Matthew  F 89 

Kemp,  James  F 99 

Keppel,  John  N 455 

Kerr,  Henry  M 492 

Kerr,  John 215 

Kerruish,  John  R 513 

Kidd,  Walter  S    167 

King,  William 303 

Kirkpatrick,  Allen 474 

Kirkpatrick,  Joseph  O 263 

Kline,  Alpha  K 473 

Klingensmith,  Barkley  J 399 

Knorr,  Victor  C 118 

Knox,  William  J 105 

Koch,  Peter 22 

Koehler,  Charles  D 447 

Koehler,  George  A 256 

Kola,  Frank 481 

Kooser,  Henry  C .515 

Kovats,  Kalman 85 

Krauth,  Frederick 122 

Krigbaum,  Conard  G 446 

Krogmanu.  Clement 500 

Kunkel,  Frank  C 148 

Kuntz,  Peter  P 263 

L 

Lamb,  George  H 470 

Lane,  Dilia  A 495 

Lang,  Adam 498 

Langsdorf ,  Peter  S 28 

Larimer,  Thomas  McM 487 

Lashell,  George  A 250 

Lauck,  John  E 33 

Laughner.  Perry  O 209 

Lavvson,  Chalmers  M 54 

Lee,  Caleb,  Jr 395 

Lee,  Henrv  E 436 

Lenhart,  David  G 507 

Lewis,  John  F 466 

Lewis,  Thomas  J 52 

Lippert,  Ernest  T ■. 151 

Little,  David  B 478 

Little,  John  C 322 

Loeb,  Milton 389 

Loeffert,  John 270 

Logan,  George  W 507 

Lohman,  Henrv  J 22 

Lonabaugh.  Albert 236 

Long,  James  N 36 

Loucks,  William  L 408 

Lourey,  William  P 165 

Love,  Thomas  J 491 

Lowers,  John  F 125 

Luckert,  John 466 

Lynch,  David  H 452 

Lynch,  Madison  B 271 

Lvon,  Florence  M 291 

Lyon,'  William  R .  .291 


M  PAGE. 

McAlpin,  William 417 

McBride,  H erman  J 133 

McCaffrey,  Samuel  P 51 1 

McCarthy,  Maurice 320 

McCarty,  R.  Lee 25 

McCaw,  William  J   103 

McClinton,  William 401 

McClure,  Andrew  F 516 

McClure,  Daniel  R 141 

McClure,  John  C 493 

McClure,  Matthew  L 126 

McCormick,  S.  C 222 

McCullough,  William 435 

McCune,  D.  P 453 

McCune,  W.  C 47 

McDermott,  Congal  A 441 

McDowell,  James  A 304 

McElroy,  Archibald  D 76 

McFarland,  George  L 258 

McFetridge,  George  H 166 

McFetridge,  William 171 

McGeary,  George  H 480 

McGinlev,  John  S   392 

McGinley,  Neil 476 

McGinniss.  Thomas  A 433 

McLaughlin,  H.  A     136 

McMahon,  Joseph  M 415 

McMullen,  P.  S 260 

McPherson,  J.  Clyde 336 

Mc Williams,  George  A 418 

MacDcugall,  Duncan 98 

Madden,  Francis  J 524 

Marshall,  Henrv  L 338 

Marshall.  William  S 356 

Martin,  Harry  R 412 

Martin,  John 480 

Martin,  J.Will     279 

Martin,  Tavlor  McI 262 

Masters.  Frank  R 229 

Maurhoff,  Emil  E 188 

Meckel,  Gustave  A 156 

Medvetzkv,  Julius 475 

Meeds.  Harrison  P 163 

Melhorn.  John  K 295 

Mellon,  James  A 412 

Metcalf,  Orlando 402 

Mettler,  J.  W 284 

Metzler,  J.  H 310 

Meyers,  Charles  A 454 

Mever,  William  C 139 

Miller,  J.  Clvde 189 

Miller,  Samuel  D 275 

Millheim,  John  H 334 

Milligan,  J.  Knox 474 

Milliken.  Samuel 462 

Mills,  Isaac 243 

Mills.  James  K       468 

Mills,  Stei-hen  D    467 

Miner.  F.  B 377 

Monnier,  Henry 350 

Montgomery,  John  R 257 


INDEX 


13 


PAGE. 

Montgomery,  Samuel  P 232 

Moore,  Charles 423 

Moore,  George  H 143 

Morgan,  John  T 191 

M  organ,  Lewis  N 124 

Moore,  Thomas 68 

Morressey,  P.  J 59 

Morrison,  James 445 

Mullet,  Samuel 344 

Murphey,  Harry  O 96 

Murphv,  Patrick  J 101 

Murray,  John  H 528 

Muth,  Frederick  L 226 

Mvers,  Samuel  M 488 

Myers,  W.  Harvey .430 

N 

Naudler,  John  S 44 

Needling,  August  J 504 

Nicholas,  William 182 

Nicol,  John  F 457 

Nimmo,  Alexander  A 45 

Norman,  Thomas,  Jr 153 

O 

O'Brien,  J.  E 446 

O'Brien,  Leo  F 53 

O'Donovan,  Michael  C 185 

Oeffner,  Peter  J 207 

Oertel,  Frank  L 120 

Oncken,  John  P 325 

O'Shea,  Cornelius 396 

Overy,  Joseph  .    162 

Owens,  George  T 411 

P 

Painter,  Johu  W 36 

Pancoast,  George  W 290 

Parker,  Charles 105 

Parry,  Thomas  L 117 

Pastre,  George  F 93 

Patterson,  James  H 247 

Patterson,  Peter      48 

Patterson,  Peter  C 453 

Patterson,  William  H 222 

Peairs,  Andrew  F 502 

Penney,  James  L 460 

Petty,  A.  Lewis,  Jr 24 

Pfaub,  George  N 482 

Pfeifer,  Edward  J 486 

Pfordt,  Charles  C 419 

Phillips,  Charles  A 486 

Philips,  O.  H 113 

Poundstone,  John  A 146 

Power,  John  H 367 

Powers,  Edward  W 201 

Pratt,  Frank  W 461 

Price,  B,  Frank 149 

Pugh,  E.  J 378 


Q  PAGE. 

Quaill,  David  R 358 

Quaill,  Elizabeth  (Reel) 358 

Quaill  Family,  The 358 

Quaill,  George 358 

R 

Rankin,  Charles  A 80 

Rankin,  John  1 494 

Rankin,  John  W 502 

Rea,  Thomas  R   456 

Reed,  William  A 227 

Reel,  Wiley  G 368 

Reel,  WiUiam  H 373 

Reese,  William  S 434 

Reinhart,  Joseph 499 

Rickenbaugh,  John  R 197 

Rhoades,  Peter  F 286 

Rhoades,  Sylvester  E 522 

Riblet,  Harry  L 369 

Richards,  Arthur  J 56 

Richards,  Wm.  Henry 59 

Riethmiller,  George  W 491 

Riggs,  Robert  L 17 

Rinard,  John Ill 

Robb,  John  D 312 

Roche,  Joseph  T 94 

Romine,  John  R 75 

Roose,  Arthur  E 129 

Roseborough,  William  J 475 

Rosenberg,  David 49 

Rosensteel,  Thomas  W 221 

Roth,  Jacob 31 

Roth,  Joseph 30 

Rotharmel,  John  P 103 

Rotzsch,  Louis  E 67 

Rowley,  Daniel  G 318 

Ruder't,  Paul   420 

Russell,  W.  F 305 

Ryan,  John   M 529 

S 

Sargeant,  W.  A 183 

Schmidt,  Aristide  J 316 

Schmitt,  John 512 

Schopp,  Lawrence 517 

Schrandt,  Frederick  W 265 

Schuetz,  Elmer  A 299 

Schwarz,  George 422 

Schwitter,  Fred 366 

Scott,  Alexander  M 114 

Scott,  David 340 

Scott,  George  H 175 

Scott,  Harry  C 317 

Scott,  John 403 

Sefton,  Frank 343 

Seifert,  Edward  O 78 

Serena,  John  E 20 

Shaffer,  J.  O   424 

Shale,  Jacob  B 43 


14 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Shaner,  James 497 

Shanks,  John  I 376 

Sheets,  William  L 28 

Shields,  John 312 

Shields,  Robert  J 503 

Shultz,  Herman 496 

Sieber,  William 70 

Simons,  Hugh 387 

Sinn,  Charles  J 409 

Skelly,  John  K 86 

Smith,  Albert  G 281 

Smith,  Duane  P 77 

Smith,  Samuel  B 224 

Snyder,  Daniel  A 246 

Snyder,  George  W 124 

Sober,  Craig  M 429 

Soles,  Anderson 81 

Soles,  Clarence  E 68 

Soles,  Wesley  C 75 

Spence,  David 159 

Spencer,  Daniel  B 448 

Sproat,  H.  H 463 

Stahl,  James  W 470 

Staley,  William  J 154 

Stamm,  Henry 455 

Stanton,  William  M 255 

Stark,  Christ 427 

Starke,  Emil  C 268 

Starke,  Richard  H 118 

Stebick,  Edward  J 102 

Stein,  John 518 

Stephens,  Louis  M 240 

Stevens,  Joseph  D 100 

Stewart,  John  W 180 

Stewart,  Samuel  E 145 

Stitt,  Meredith  C 324 

Stone,  George  R 27 

Stone,  William  A 40 

Street,  George  T 472 

Sullivan,  J.  Bailev 386 

Sullivan,  N.  K  . . ." 407 

Sutter,  Charles 173 

T 

Taylor,  Dos 205 

Taylor,  Francis  A 514 

Taylor,  Samuel ' 520 

Thompson,  George  W 267 

Thompson,  Harvev 331 

Thompson,  Lloyd  F 393 

Thompson,  Matthew  J 265 

Tibby,  William  C 269 

Tinstman,  Abraham  O 239 

Todd,  L.  Lewis   473 

Trich,  Edward  M 45 

U 

Uhlinger,  Charles 180 


V  PAGE. 

Van  Kirk,  Herbert  S 446 

Van  Sciver,  William  K 131 

Verner,  Thomas  H 80 

Vogel,  Adam     436 

Vogelev,  Jacob  G 308 

Vogt,  John  J 187 

Volkay,  Eugene 392 

W 

Walker,  Clarence  A 46 

Walker,  James 379 

Walsh,  Charles  H 96 

Wampler,  James  N 461 

Warner,  Herbert  L 422 

Warren,  George  B 51 

Weaver,  George  P      226 

Weigle,  Charles  R 382 

Weigle,  Philip 382 

Weigle,  William    297 

Wellinger,  John  G 213 

Wernke,  F.  W    67 

Wertz,  J.  George 232 

Westwood,  Howard  H 483 

Wheatlev,  John  C 518 

Wheeler.  Hiram  J 249 

White,  D.  M 72 

White,  Thomas  W 47 

White,  William  B 190 

Wiggins,  Samuel  L 64 

Wilkins.  John 379 

Williams,  Ulysses  G 237 

Wilson,  William  F 388 

Wise,  John 527 

Wise,  William  E 510 

Wittman,  John  M 235 

Wittman,  Joseph  J 203 

Wolf,  David    426 

Wolf,  Melchior,  Sr 519 

Wolfe,  Frank 451 

Wolferd,  William 428 

Wolff,  Frank   223 

Wolff,  John  A 132 

Woodside,  Samuel  P 309 

Woodward,  James  F 42 

Y 

Yates,  William  E 383 

Yochum,  A.  M 381 

Yost  Bros 449 

Young,  Clyde  F 444 

Young,  John  F 169 

Z 

Zenn,  Philip 26 

Zimmermann,  Henry 421 


MEMOIRS 

OF 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


VOLUME  I 


HENRY  PHIPPS.  Among-  the  men  prominent  in  the  history 
of  Pittsburg,  and  among  those  who  are  loved  and  honored  for  their 
public  spirit  and  true  philanthropy,  is  Henry  Phipps.  He  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1839.  His 
father,  Henry  Phipps,  Sr.,  and  mother,  Hannah  (Franks)  Phipps, 
came  to  America  from  Shropshire,  Eng-land,  in  1832,  settling  in 
the  east,  and  twelve  years  later  settling  in  Allegheny  city.  Of 
the  three  sons  and  one  daughter  in  the  family,  only  two  are  liv- 
ing—Henry Phipps  and  Rev.  William  H.  Phipps— both  residing 
in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Henry  Phipps  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Allegheny  city,  but  left  at  an  early  age  to  enter  the  employ  of  the 
firm  of  J.  J.  Gillespie  &  Co.,  and  after  a  short  time  became  book- 
keeper for  the  firm  of  D.  W.  C.  Bidwell  &  Co.  During  this  time 
Mr.  Phipps  attended  night  school  for  several  years,  and  supple- 
mented this  by  private  study,  and  has  become  a  man  of  broad  cul- 
ture and  sympathies.  While  in  the  employ  of  the  latter  company, 
he  so  won  the  confidence  of  his  employers  that  he  became  a 
partner,  continuing  as  such  until  the  early  sixties,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  iron  business  in  Pittsburg  with  Andrew  Kloman, 
who  had  organized  the  Cyclops  iron  works,  and  shortly  afterwards 
the  firm  took  in  Andrew  and  Thomas  M.  Carnegie.  The  firm 
underwent  many  changes  in  name,  culminating  in  the  Edgar 
Thompson  steel  works,  the  first  plant  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains  to  manufacture  steel  rails.  Mr.  Phipps  was  in  active 
charge  of  the  financial  department  of  these  different  enterprises 
until  1888,  when  ill  health  forced  him  to  resign.  A  few  years 
spent  in  travel  in  foreign  countries  proved  to  be  both  a  benefit  and 
pleasure,  for  his  taste  for  travel  had  not  been  satisfied  on  account 

1-2  17 


18  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

of  pressing  business  cares.  Mr.  Phipps  led  to  the  altar  Annie 
Childs  Shaffer,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  S.  Shaffer,  one  of 
the  best  known  of  the  early  Pittsburg  families.  Five  children 
came  to  bless  their  home — three  sons,  John  Shaffer,  Henry 
Carnegie  and  Howard,  and  two  daughters,  Amy  and  Helen.  The 
first  public  benefaction  of  Mr.  Phipps  was  the  Allegheny  conserv- 
atories, which  were  given  to  the  city  on  the  condition  that  they 
should  be  open  to  the  public  at  all  times.  Shortly  after  this  fol- 
lowed the  gift  to  Pittsburg  of  the  conservatory  and  botanical  school, 
which  are  the  finest  of  the  kind  in  the  country  and  complete  in 
every  detail.  In  making  his  gifts  to  the  public  and  in  all  charitable 
work,  Mr.  Phipps  has  been  anxious  to  escape  public  notice,  and 
believes  that  one  should  not  "let  the  right  hand  know  what  the  left 
hand  doeth. "  Mr.  Phipps  has  earned  for  himself  a  reputation  as 
one  of  the  ablest  financiers  of  the  country,  and  numbers  among  his 
friends  all  of  the  leading  financial  men  of  the  United  States. 

GEORGE  L.  HOLLIDAY,  postmaster 
of  Pittsburg,  has  been  for  many  years 
prominently  before  the  public.  He  was 
first  elected  to  the  city  council  in  1873, 
on  the  republican  ticket,  and  served  in 
that  body  for  twenty-five  years,  being 
for  about  fifteen  years  president  of  the 
council.  By  virtue  of  being  president  of 
the  council,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
library  commission  and  of  the  building 
committee  of  that  body  when  the  main 
library  building  was  erected,  and  took  a 
special  interest  in  the  location  and  erec- 
tion of  the  branch  libraries.  When  appointed  postmaster,  he 
resigned  from  the  office  of  president  of  the  council  and  library 
commission.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Pittsburg  on 
April  16,  1898,  by  President  McKinley  and  was  reappointed  by 
President  Roosevelt  on  May  2,  1902.  Mr.  Holliday  was  born  in 
Perth,  Ontario  Co.,  Canada,  May  19,  1845,  and  is  descended  from 
Scotch  ancestors.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Holliday,  was 
sent  by  the  English  government  to  Canada  as  a  teacher  in  the 
pioneer  government  schools,  Francis  Holliday,  son  of  John  and 
father  of  George  L.,  was  born  in  Great  Britain,  came  to  Canada 
when  a  lad,  and  was  educated  in  Perth.  Subsequently  he  learned 
the  harness-makers'   trade,  which  he  followed   for  several  vears» 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  19 

and,  in  1857,  moved  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
general  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  May,  1896.  He 
married  Mrs.  Margaret  Hamilton  McEwan,  daughter  of  John 
McEwan,  of  Carleton,  Ont.,  and  became  the  father  of  nine  chil- 
dren. George  L.  Holliday  had  acquired  the  rudiments  of  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  town,  when,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  their  new  home  in  Ohio.  Here  his  schooling 
was  for  several  years  limited  to  a  few  months  in  the  winter  season, 
and  then,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  began  to 
attend  the  academy  at  Northwood,  two  miles  distant.  He  com- 
pleted his  education  at  the  normal  school  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  being 
graduated  from  the  classical  department  in  1866.  He  accepted  a 
position  with  Harper  Brothers,  being  stationed  in  Ohio  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  Pittsburg  and  continued  to  be  the  firm's  repre- 
sentative until  1880.  He  was  for  a  time  employed  by  Ivison, 
Blakeman  &  Co.,  of  Pittsburg,  but,  upon  the  organization  of  the 
American  book  company,  became  its  active  representative.  On 
Sept.  7,  1870,  Mr.  Holliday  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  T. 
Pringle,  daughter  of  Dr.  George  W.  Pringle,  of  New  Concord, 
Ohio,  and  is  the  father  of  seven  children,  viz.:  George  A., 
Harry  C,  Grace  W.,  Mary  E.,  Edna  M.,  Samuel  P.  and  Francis  M. 
Mr.  Holliday  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Mr.  Holliday  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  promoters  and  is  now  president  of  the 
Duquesne  inclined  plane  company. 

©EDWIN  H.  STOWE,  ex-judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  and  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pa.,  Jan.  2,  1826,  where 
he  spent  his  boyhood.  He  was  educated 
in  Washington  college.  After  being 
admitted  to  the  bar,  he  spent  many  years 
in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, and  was  then  elected  to  his  present 
office.  Judge  Stowe  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  oldest  judge  in  commission 
in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  has 
been  re-elected  to  his  position  a  number 
of  times,  and,  although  in  politics  a  republican,  his  election  has 
several  times  received  the  indorsement  of  both  parties,  showing  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  Pittsburg. 


20  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

WESLEY  S.  GUFFEY,  capitalist  and 
oil  magnate.  Out  of  the  depths  of 
his  wisdom,  Carlyle  wrote,  "History- 
is  the  essence  of  innumerable  biogra- 
phies," and  Macaulay  has  said,  "The 
history  of  a  nation  is  best  told  in  the  lives 
of  its  people."  It  is  therefore  fitting 
that  mention  of  this  distinguished  citizen 
should  be  made  in  this  publication. 
History  was  at  one  time  almost  entirely  a 
record  of  wars,  a  tale  of  conquest  in 
which  armed  hosts  went  forth  to  capture, 
pillage  and  destroy,  but  with  advancing 
civilization  it  has  become  a  very  different  chronicle,  being  now 
more  particularly  the  story  of  the  onward  march  of  progress,  the 
upbuilding  of  cities  and  the  establishing  of  enterprises  and  inter- 
ests which  contribute  to  man's  happiness  and  welfare.  A  man's 
reputation  is  the  property  of  the  world.  The  laws  of  nature  have 
forbidden  isolation.  As  every  human  being  submits  to  the  con- 
trolling influence  of  others,  or  as  a  master  wields  a  power  for 
good  or  evil  on  the  masses  of  mankind,  there  can  be  no  impropriety 
in  justly  scanning  the  acts  of  any  man  as  they  affect  his  public, 
social  and  business  relations.  If  he  be  honest  and  successful  in  his 
chosen  fields  of  endeavor,  investigation  will  brighten  his  fame  and 
point  the  paths  along  which  others  may  follow.  Mr.  Guffey  is  a 
son  of  Alexander  Guffey,  a  direct  descendant  of  William  Guffey, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1738.  This  pioneer  joined  the  expedi- 
tion under  Gen.  John  Forbes  against  the  French  at  Fort 
Duquesne,  and  afterwards  settled  at  Loyalhanna  Creek,  where  was 
established  by  his  aid  the  first  English-speaking  settlement  in  West- 
moreland county.  In  1886  occurred  a  reunion  of  the  Guffey  family, 
attended  by  five  generations,  aggregating  293  persons.  Mr. 
Wesley  S.  Guffey  was  born  in  Madison,  Westmoreland  county, 
Feb,  22,  1842,  and  his  career  has  been  a  busy  and  successful  one 
from  the  beginning.  He  is  the  senior  member  of  Guffey  &  Queen, 
one  of  the  most  prominent,  successful  and  progressive  oil,  coal  and 
mineral  producing  firms  in  the  country.  This  firm  is  one  of  the 
heralds  of  advancing  civilization,  recognizing  that  into  the  bosom 
of  the  earth  the  hand  of  nature  had  placed  rich  deposits  that  had 
been  lying  dormant  for  centuries,  only  waiting  for  progressive  men 
to  open  the  way  that  the  more  timid  might  follow.  Their  bold, 
progressive  and  successful  operations  in  oil,  coal,  gas,  gold,  silver 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  21 

and  copper  mining-  have  not  been  confined  to  narrow  limits,  but 
have  covered  every  State  in  the  Union  where  minerals  were  to  be 
found.  The  life-record  of  Mr.  Guffey  may  be  chronicled  in  this 
brief  sentence:  Success  comes  not  to  the  man  who  idly  waits,  but 
to  the  faithful  toiler  whose  labor  is  characterized  by  force  and 
intelligence.  It  comes  only  to  the  man  who  has  the  keenness  of 
mental  vision  to  know  when,  where  and  how  to  exert  his  energies, 
and  thus  it  happens  that  but  a  small  proportion  of  those  who  enter 
the  "world's  broad  field  of  battle"  come  off  victorious  in  the 
struggle  for  wealth  and  position.  His  career  has  been  an  honor- 
able and  uprig-ht  one,  and  now,  in  the  evening  of  life,  he  can  look 
back  over  the  past  without  regret.  He  has  performed  a  noble  work 
for  himself  and  his  fellow-man,  has  left  the  impress  of  his  individ- 
uality upon  this  community,  and  has  inscribed  his  name  high  on 
the  roll  of  Pittsburg's  eminent  and  honored  citizens. 

CHARLES  ALEXANDER  ROOK, 
president  of  the  Dispatch  publishing 
company,  was  born  at  Pittsburg  in  1861, 
the  eldest  son  of  Alexander  W.  and  Har- 
riet L.  (Beck)  Rook.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Western  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. When  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  publication  office  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Dispatch,  and  has  spent  practically 
all  his  life  in  the  service  of  that  journal 
in  various  capacities,  rising  from  one  posi- 
tion to  another  until  he  has  become  the 
proprietor  and  editor  of  one  of  the  most 
famous  and  influential  dailies  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Rook  is 
well  and  favorably  known  to  the  members  of  the  newspaper  fra- 
ternity throughout  the  country.  He  has  exceptional  executive 
ability,  his  pleasantness  of  manner  compelling  more  than  force  of 
command.  He  was  married,  in  1884,  to  Miss  Anna  Wilson.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  viz.  :  Helen  Emma,  Charles 
Alexander,  Jr.,  and  Florence  Anna. 

Alexander  W.  Rook,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  printers  and  publishers  of  Pittsburg,  a  man 
beloved  by  his  employes,  in  which  respect  the  son  has  followed  in 
his  father's  footsteps.  This  was  appropriately  illustrated  when 
Mr.  Rook  became  the  president  of  the  Dispatch  publishing  company, 
the  members  of  the  Dispatch  chapel  uniting  in  a  series  of  cordial 


22  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

and  happily-worded  resolutions  of  congratulation,  emphasizing  the 
good  wishes  of  the  Dispatch  force  for  the  new  owner.  Mr.  Rook 
is  broad-gauge  in  character,  liberal  in  his  treatment  of  persons  and 
subjects  He  has  an  ample  realization  of  the  responsibilities  of 
the  direction  of  a  great  and  influential  newspaper.  The  Dispatch 
is  never  actuated  by  any  petty  considerations,  its  power  being 
always  used  to  foster  the  best  interests  of  the  community  and  to 
bring  forth  the  fittest  men  for  public  office.  As  a  journal,  it  was 
one  of  the  first  in  the  country  to  stand  upon  a  platform  of  absolute 
independence  upon  all  questions  of  politics  or  capital  and  labor. 
The  wisdom  of  such  a  course  has  been  exemplified  within  the  last 
few  years  by  the  great  majority  of  other  journals  which  have  been 
forced  to  disregard  their  hide-bound  partisan  predilections  Some 
evidence  of  the  worth  of  the  paper  as  conducted  under  the  regime 
which  Mr.  Rook  represents  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  the  Dis- 
patch was  responsible  for  the  agitation  that  resulted  in  the  move- 
ment to  secure  pure  water  for  Pittsburg,  for  which  a  large 
appropriation  was  made  in  the  recent  bond  issue;  the  improvement 
of  the  public  roads  not  only  in  Allegheny  county,  but  throughout 
western  Pennsylvania;  the  campaign  of  education  which  succeeded 
in  having  the  survey  made  for  a  navigable  waterway  between  the 
great  lakes  and  the  Ohio  river,  and  the  stupendous  movement  of 
the  last  few  months  which  has  brought  before  the  people,  the  con- 
gress and  president  of  the  United  States  the  enormous  importance 
of  having  a  nine-foot  stage  in  the  Ohio  river  the  year  arovmd  in 
order  that  full  advantage  might  be  taken  of  the  commercial  pos- 
sibilities resulting  from  the  acquisition  and  construction  of  the 
isthmian  canal. 

The  Dispatch  has,  also,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Rook, 
succeeded  in  establishing  a  national  and  international  reputation 
through  its  possession  of  an  up-to-date  London  bureau  by  means 
of  which  it  has  been  enabled  to  secure  the  exclusive  publication  of 
some  of  the  most  startling  items  of  international  news  for  the  past 
several  months. 

This  spirit  of  enterprise,  however,  is  characteristic  of  the  history 
of  the  Dispatch.  Founded  in  1846  by  Col.  J.  Heron  Foster,  the 
stirrmg  news  of  the  Mexican  war  presented  an  opportunity  for  the 
display  of  energy  in  securing  and  imparting  intelligence  of  which 
the  publishers  made  the  most.  Special  efforts  were  made  to  obtain 
the  news  at  the  earliest  moment,  and  one  of  these  resulted  in  the 
first  issue  of  a  Sunday  edition.  Brownsville  was  then  the  distrib- 
uting center  for  the  Pittsburg  mail  which  came  by  stage  over  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  23 

national  turnpike.  The  Dispatch  organized  a  daily  express  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  the  latest  advices  to  its  office,  where  they  were 
immediately  issued  to  the  public.  Upon  the  last  day  of  May,  1846, 
the  Brownsville  boat  was  delayed,  and  the  important  news  of  the 
crossing  of  the  Rio  Grande  by  the  American  army  under  Gen. 
Zachary  Taylor  was  carried  by  the  Dispatch  express  from  Elizabeth, 
Sunday  morning.  An  extra  edition  was  at  once  issued,  the  first  Sun- 
day edition  of  a  newspaper  in  Pittsburg.  It  was  not  until  thirty-five 
years  later  that  the  Sunday  issue  of  the  Dispatch  was  undertaken 
as  a  regular  edition,  one  of  the  strongest  in  excellence  and  circula- 
tion in  the  country.  A  feature  of  the  Sunday  Dispatch  is  the  fact 
that  it  prints  a  larger  number  of  wants,  help  and  agents'  advertise- 
ments than  any  other  paper  in  the  United  States,  and  more  classi- 
fied advertisements  than  all  other  Pittsburg  Sunday  papers 
together.  In  a  recent  test,  out  of  280  leading  American  papers, 
only  9  brought  more  than  200  answers  each,  and  the  Dispatch  led 
them  all  with  274.  The  explanation  of  the  success  of  the  Dispatch 
as  an  advertising  medium  is  no  doubt  to  be  found  in  the  policy, 
inaugurated  during  Mr.  Rook's  tenure  as  business  manager,  of 
seeking  to  bring  good  returns  to  its  advertising  customers. 

The  modern  development  of  the  Dispatch  dates  from  the  pur- 
chase of  a  half  interest  in  it  by  Alexander  W.  Rook  and  Daniel 
O'Neill,  in  1865.  Mr.  O'Neill  was  a  strong  and  original  writer. 
Mr.  Rook  was  one  of  the  foremost  of  his  tirrie  in  all  that  related  to 
the  mechanical  and  typographical  department  of  newspaper-mak- 
ing. His  qualifications  were  long  experience,  remarkable  executive 
ab  lity  and  sound  judgment.  Under  the  new  management  the 
paper  was  remodeled  and  enlarged,  and  its  price  increased  to  three 
cents  to  meet  the  greater  expenses  consequent  upon  the  war. 

But  the  most  notable  change  was  the  announced  determination 
that,  while  continuing  to  support  the  principles  and  national  candi- 
dates of  the  republican  party,  the  Dispatch  would  be  absolutely  free 
from  the  control  of  politicians  and  from  the  suspicion  of  being  the 
organ  of  any  political  party.  Two  years  later,  when  Colonel  Foster 
died,  Messrs.  O'Neill  and  Rook  purchased  the  other  half  interest, 
the  partnership  continuing  until  the  death  of  Mr.  O'Neill,  in  1877. 
Mr.  Rook  survived  him  but  two  and  a  half  years,  his  death  occur- 
ring Aug.  14,  1880.  The  ownership  was  continued  in  the  families, 
Eugene  M.  O'Neill,  brother  of  Daniel  O'Neill,  becoming  president 
of  the  company,  and  C.  A.  Rook  treasurer  and  business  manager, 
with  Florence  O'Neill,  secretary  and  manager  of  circulation. 

On  March  12,  1902,   Mr.  Rook  bought  the  controlling  interest 


24  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

of  E.  M.  O'Neill,  succeeding  him  as  president  of  the  corporation 
and  editor.  Under  his  direction  there  have  been  liberal  and  rapid 
improvements  dictated  by  his  personal  thorough  knowledge  of 
every  department  of  newspaper-making.  While  retaining  the 
excellencies  of  the  past,  the  Dispatch  has  expanded  under  the  genial 
influences  of  Mr.  Rook's  control,  adding  new  and  popular  fea- 
tures, and  exhibiting  renewed  and  inspiring  devotion  to  the  public 
interest,  and  the  dissemination  of  the  news  and  views  of  the  day 
without  prejudice  or  favor. 

JOHN  S.  LAMBIE,  attorney,  of  Pitts- 
^        '  '  ^^Bk  burg,    and    for    twenty-six     consecutive 

m^    .  IH^        years  a  member  of  the  select  council  and 

^K^^  Wm^^      for  six  years  president  of  that  body,  was 

^H^^^p^^  ^^^/m  born  in  Pittsburg,  Nov.  i,  1843.  His 
^^m  ^  '  «WI|  father,  William  Lambie,  a  native  of  Scot- 
mSm'  ^  ^^^B     ^^^^1  died  when  forty-three  years  old,  in 

f  WKm     hI^B      1858.       His     mother,     Aimee     (Sioussa) 

Lambie,  a  native  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
was  a  daughter  of  John  P.  Sioussa,  a 
Frenchman  who  came  to  Washington 
about  1812,  and  lived  there  the  rest  of  his 
life,  having  a  position  in  the  White  House 
under  President  Madison.  John  P.  Sioussa  was  a  sailor  in  the 
French  navy,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Nile.  During  the 
War  of  1812,  when  the  British  came  to  devastate  Washington,  he 
saved  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds'  portrait  of  Washington,  and  in  appre- 
ciation of  that  act  received  a  personal  letter  from  President 
Madison.  John  S.  Lambie  was  reared  and  educated  in  Pittsburg, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1862.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  served  several  times  for  short  terms;  was  corporal  of  Company 
F,  193d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  for  100  days,  in  1864; 
and,  prior  to  that  time,  served  ninety  days  in  the  Pennsylvania 
militia  as  corporal  of  Company  F,  15th  regiment.  After  the  war  he 
studied  law  with  Thomas  M.  Marshall  and  A.  M.  Brown;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  April  16,  1865,  and  has  been  very  successful 
in  his  practice.  He  was  elected  to  the  council  in  1877,  and  has 
served  ever  since,  representing  the  eighth  ward.  For  the  past  six 
years  he  has  been  president  of  the  select  council.  In  January, 
1902,  on  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his  election  to  the  council, 
Mr,  Lambie  was  presented  by  that  body  with  a  magnificent  hall 
clock,  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  of  his  long  and  faithful  service. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  25 

Mr.  Lambie  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Agnes  Cunningham, 
daughter  of  John  Cunningham,  and  had  by  this  marriage  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Edward  H.  Wiggins, 
of  Philadelphia.  In  1S70  he  took  as  his  second  wife  Anna, 
daughter  of  Thos.  Robertson,  and  had  by  this  marriage  eight 
children,  of  whom  seven  survive,  as  follows:  Jeanette  R., 
wife  of  Louis  F.  Ross;  Louis  F.,  editor  of  the  McKeesport 
Daily  News;  Aimee  S.,  wife  of  Dr.  David  Beggs;  Charles  S., 
a  civil  engineer  on  the  Wabash  railroad;  John  S.,  Thomas  A. 
and  Marguerite  McCandless.  Mr.  Lambie  is  a  member  of  Post 
No.  3,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  been  commander.  He  belongs 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

J^^  DAVID    REECE    TORRENCE,    city 

^^.-.illjllj^^  treasurer    of    Pittsburg,    is    a    native    of 

^^  ^H^  Pittsburg,  born  April  10,  1S47.  He  was 
\g^  ^R  «^^  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  city, 
P^  ^^^k      ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  honored  resident  most 

^j£^      ^^H     of    his    life.     When  fifteen   years  old  he 
^^^~    ^^^1     left    school,     and    was    for     two     years 
jHf^^^^^^M     employed  in  his  father's  grocery,  then  he 
.^^■^^^^^^H      entered   the   employ  of    the    P.   C.   C.   & 
^tj^^^^^^^^^m        St.  L.  R.  R.  company,   as  a  clerk  in  the 
^^H^^^^^^         South    vSide    office.       He    remained    with 
^^^^B^^^  this   company    about    eight    years,    then 

resigned  and  went  to  Paducah,  Ky.  He 
was  appointed  local  freight  and  ticket  agent  of  the  Elizabethtown 
&  Paducah  railroad  company,  which  later  became  the  Louisville, 
Paducah  &  Southwestern.  In  1876  Mr.  Torrence  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg, and  was  for  two  years  employed  by  the  coal  firm  of  Negley 
&  Co.  He  entered  the  office  of  the  city  treasurer  in  1878,  as  clerk, 
where  his  career  has  been  brilliant  and  eventful.  In  the  same  year 
that  he  became  an  employe  in  the  city  treasurer's  office,  Mr. 
Torrence  was  made  cashier,  and,  in  1885,  he  was  made  chief  clerk. 
In  1896  he  was-  elected  treasurer,  was  re-elected  in  1899,  and,  in 
1902,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  office  for  a  third  term,  under  the 
famous  "Ripper  bill."  Mr.  Torrence  served  the  thirty-second 
ward,  Pittsburg,  for  eighteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  for  fifteen  years  of  that  time  represented  his  ward  on 
the  Central  school  board.  During  his  service  on  the  Central  board 
he  was  one  of  its  most  prominent  members,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  which  introduced  industrial  education  into  the  public 


26  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

schools,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  which  built  the  Fifth 
Avenue  high  school  and  the  South  Side  high  school.  Mr.  Torrence 
is  an  enthusiastic  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar  and  Mystic  Shriner, 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

-        v^  PETER  WILLIAM  SIEBERT,  regis- 

ter of  deeds  of  Allegheny  county,  was 
born  Jan.  25,  1849,  on  a  farm  in  Shaler 
township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  In  1854 
he  removed  with  his  father.  Christian 
Siebert,  to  Pittsburg,  where  his  father 
engaged  in  the  leather  business  until  the 
year  1883,  becoming  one  of  the  largest 
dealers  in  that  line.  The  son  also  was 
engaged  with  his  father  from  1866  to 
1881,  obtaining  a  thorough  business 
experience.  P.  W.  Siebert  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools;  at  Witherspoon 
institute  at  Butler,  Pa.  ;  at  the  military  academy  at  West  Chester, 
Pa.,  and  at  Western  university  in  Pittsburg.  Upon  arriving  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  eighteenth 
ward,  Pittsburg,  in  the  common  council,  and,  removing  to  the 
seventeenth  ward,  was  chosen  to  represent  this  ward  first  in  the 
common  branch,  then  in  the  select  branch.  He  served  as  council- 
man for  over  fourteen  years,  he  and  his  father  sitting  side  by  side 
for  two  terms  in  the  city  council  from  different  wards.  He  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  military  affairs,  having  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  enlisted  in 
March,  1864,  in  Gordon's  West  Virginia  battery,  light  artillery, 
and  served  until  mustered  out,  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  in  May,  1865. 
During  this  time  he  took  part  in  the  movements  up  and  down  the 
Shenandoah  valley,  and  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  leg  in  an 
engagement  near  Winchester,  Va.  Afterwards  he  joined  the 
"Duquesne  Grays,"  of  Pittsburg,  in  which  he  was  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant.  The  "Grays"  were  later  organized  into  the  1 8th  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  national  guard,  and  were  thrice  called  upon  by 
the  State  authorities  to  quell  riots.  Retiring  from  the  leather 
business,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  became,  in  1882.  bookkeeper 
for  the  Third  National  bank  of  Pittsburg,  and  later  became 
cashier  for  the  Transverse  street  railway  company,  serving  this 
company  until  it  consolidated  with  the  Citizens'  traction  company, 
and  afterwards  entered  the  office  of  the  county  commissioners  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  27 

Allegheny  county  as  chief  clerk.  When  the  department  of  regis- 
tering of  deeds  was  established,  in  October,  1901,  Mr.  Siebert  was 
chosen,  on  account  of  his  experience,  as  register  of  deeds,  and 
superintendent  of  transferring  and  plotting  property.  Mr.  Siebert 
has  been  secretary  of  the  Ewalt  Street  bridge  company  since  1868, 
a  director  of  that  company  since  1874,  and,  in  1893,  upon  the  death 
of  his  father.  Christian  Siebert,  succeeded  him  as  treasurer  of  the 
concern,  still  retaining  this  position.  He  has  also  been  a  director 
in  the  German  National  bank  of  Pittsburg  since  1893,  taking  the 
place  of  his  father,  who  was  one  of  its  founders  before  the  Civil 
war.  Mr.  Siebert  is  also  actively  engaged  in  church  work,  having 
been  superintendent  of  St.  Paul's  Reformed  church,  Pittsburg,  for 
over  thirty  years,  and  having  served  his  church  in  the  higher  coun- 
cils of  the  same  on  many  occasions.  He  was  also  a  manager  of  an 
orphans'  home  for  several  years.  He  is  now  the  supreme  repre- 
sentative from  Pennsylvania  in  the  Royal  Society  of  Good  Fellows, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Heptasophs,  Royal 
Arcanum,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  married,  in 
1874,  to  Sarah  O'Brien,  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  They  have  four 
sons,  Wm  C,  J.  F.,  Paul  T.  and  George  E.,  and  one  daughter, 
Sarah  M      In  politics  Mr.  Siebert  is  a  stanch  republican. 

HUDSON  SAMSON  (deceased),  for 
many  years  one  of  the  leading  funeral 
directors  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
Pulaski,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  29, 
1840.  His  parents  were  Jonathan  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (Draper)  Samson,  of  an  old 
New  England  Quaker  family.  There 
were  four  children  in  the  family — two 
daughters,  who  died  when  young;  Hud- 
son Samson  (deceased),  and  Dexter  M. 
Samson,  who  is  still  living  in  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.  The  father  died  in  Pitts- 
burg, Jan.  3,  1894,  at  an  advanced  age. 
Mr.  Samson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Pulaski,  and 
prepared  for  college  at  the  old  Pulaski  academy.  On  account  of  ill 
health  he  did  not  attend  college,  but  came  to  Pittsburg  in  Decem- 
ber, 1859,  when  nineteen  years  old.  On  Feb.  14,  1862,  Mr.  Samson 
married  Miss  Susan  Gilmore,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  while  one  daughter.  Miss  Cora 
L.,  died  Feb.  i,  1898.     In  1859  Mr.  Samson  entered  the  undertak- 


28  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

ingf  business  in  Pittsburg,  and  was  probably  the  oldest  undertaker 
in  the  city,  in  point  of  service,  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1861 
he  took  Robert  Fairman  as  a  partner,  and  the  business  was  suc- 
cessfully conducted  under  the  firm^  name  of  Fairman  &  Samson, 
until  1875.  During  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he  was  ably 
assisted  by  his  son,  Harry  G.  Samson,  who  now  succeeds  his  father 
in  the  business.  In  1884  Mr.  Samson  erected  a  beautiful  funeral 
chapel  at  No.  433  Sixth  Ave.,  which  was  considered  at  the  time  it 
was  built  to  be  the  finest  and  most  complete  in  the  United  States. 
He  early  considered  the  idea  of  erecting  a  crematory,  and,  in  1885, 
built  a  model  establishment.  It  was  the  second  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States,  and  soon  became  famous.  It  first  came  into  promi- 
nence in  1891,  when  the  body  of  Emma  Abbott,  the  famous  opera 
singer,  was  cremated  there.  Mr.  Samson  was  perhaps  the  most 
conspicuous  layman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  western 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  one  of  the  bulwarks  of  the  Pittsburg  church 
union,  being  its  president  for  many  years.  He  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  city  evangelization,  and  was  an  officer,  for  a  long  time,  of 
the  National  union.  It  was  his  custom  for  a  number  of  years  past 
to  build  a  church  each  year.  This  he  accomplished  through  the 
Church  Extension  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and, 
as  a  result,  many  frontier  town  congregations  are  happy  in  their 
modest  and  comfortable  little  buildings,  not  knowing  where  the 
money  came  from  that  made  them  possible.  Mr.  Samson  guaided 
this  pet  way  of  doing  good  very  jealously,  and  few,  even  of  his 
most  intimate  friends,  knew  that  he  had  followed  it  for  nearly  a 
score  of  years.  Mr.  Samson  was  president  of  the  National  city 
evangelization  union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was 
also  a  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  association,  a  member 
of  the  advisory  board  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  association, 
a  member  of  the  board  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  deaconesses' 
home,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  the  Pittsburg  free  dispensary. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Allegheny  college, 
Meadville,  Pa.,  and  of  Beaver  college,  Beaver,  Pa.  He  was  treas- 
urer of  the  Anti-saloon  league  of  Allegheny  county,  and  for  the 
past  ten  years  had  been  one  of  the  most  consistent  members  of  the 
Oakland  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
general  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  held  in 
Chicago,  111.,  in  1900.  For  several  terms  he  was  president  of  the 
National  and  State  funeral  directors'  associations,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  progressive  and  widely-known  men  in  his  profession. 
Mr.  Samson  was  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  29 

Franklin  lodge,  No.  221,  also  of  Tancred  commandery,  Knights 
Templars.  During  Mr.  Samson's  business  career,  in  Pittsburg  he 
had  been  fortunate  in  his  investments,  and  thereby  had  amassed  a 
considerable  fortune.  After  a  long  and  useful  career  he  died, 
July  14,  1903.  Thus,  we  have  briefly  incorporated  in  this  sketch  of 
the  life  of  one  of  Pittsburg's  leading  citizens,  a  summary  worthy 
the  emulation  of  all  who  aspire  to  the  nobler  aims  of  true  and  benef- 
icent citizenship. 

WILLIAM  EMERY  THOMPSON, 
controller  of  Allegheny  county,  was  born 
in  Fredericktown,  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  31,  1850.  When  six  years  old  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Elizabeth, 
Allegheny  county,  and  lived  there  until 
1885.  Mr.  Thompson  received  only  a 
limited  education,  and  left  school  at  the 
age  of  thirteen,  being  employed  at  first 
in  a  boat  yard,  and  later  in  a  sawmill. 
In  1868  he  went  into  his  father's  wagon 
shop  in  Elizabeth,  and  was  engaged  with 
his  father  for  several  years  in  making 
wagons.  Afterwards  he  ran  the  business  himself  for  a  time,  until 
1876,  when  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  recorder. 
He  has  since  been  prominent  in  public  life,  and,  after  some  six 
years'  service  in  the  recorder's  office,  was  elected,  in  1882,  to  the 
State  legislature,  where  he  remained  for  two  two-year  terms. 
While  a  resident  of  Elizabeth,  he  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  that  place,  serving  his  city  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  from  1880  to 
1883,  and  as  burgess  in  1881  and  1882.  After  his  service  as  legisla- 
tor, he  was  engaged  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  register  of  wills. 
He  was  made  mercantile  appraiser  of  Allegheny  county  in  1893, 
was  elected  controller  in  1896,  and  re-elected  in  1899.  On  Sept.  i, 
1885,  Mr.  Thompson  moved  to  McKeesport,  where  he  was  for  some 
years  chairman  of  the  republican  city  committee,  and,  in  1891, 
acted  as  secretary  of  the  McKeesport  board  of  education.  Mr. 
Thompson  entered  the  State  militia  service  in  1868,  as  a  private, 
and  has  risen  by  reason  of  ability  and  faithful  service  through 
minor  positions  to  the  office  of  colonel  of  the  14th  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania national  guards,  which  position  he  has  held  since  1899. 
He  served  at  Johnstown  from  June  4  to  June  30,  1889,  during  the 
terrible  times  following  the  flood.     He  served  as  senior  major  of 


30  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

the  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  during  the 
Spanish-American  war.  Colonel  Thompson  is  a  past  master  of 
Stephen  Bayard  lodge,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  a  member  of  Shiloh  chapter, 
No.  257,  and  of  Ascalon  commandery.  No.  59,  Knights  Templars, 
and  is  also  past  exalted  ruler  of  Lodge  No.  136,  B.  P.  O.  E.  He 
was  married,  on  Oct.  7,  1872,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Applegate,  Eight 
children  have  blessed  this  union,  namely:  Harvey  A.,  Malinda  Y,, 
Mary  F.,  Lillian  B.,  Jean  M.,  Sarah  A.,  Lila  L.  and  William  E.,  Jr. 

SIMON  BURNS,  president  of  the 
Window  glass  workers,  local  assembly 
No.  300,  Knights  of  Labor,  and  ex-gen- 
eral master  workman  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor,  was  born  at  La  Salle,  111.,  in  1856, 
son  of  James  Burns,  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  a  riverman  by  vocation,  who  died  in 
1857.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received 
a  limited  education  at  La  Salle,  and  then 
began  to  work  in  a  glass  factory  there, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  later  mov- 
ing to  Rock  Island,  111.  He  followed  his 
trade  as  a  glass  worker  in  Rock  Island 
until  1874,  rising  to  the  position  of  gatherer,  and,  in  1894,  went  to 
Marion,  Ind.,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  window  glass  factory. 
He  remained  there  from  March  to  October,  then  went  to  Gas  City, 
Ind.,  staying  there  until  January,  1895.  He  came  to  Pittsburg 
to  assume  the  duties  of  president  of  the  Window  glass  workers, 
local  assembly  No.  300,  to  which  office  he  had  been  previously 
elected,  receiving  in  the  election  a  majority  over  some  half  dozen 
competitors.  He  has  been  re-elected  every  year  since  then,  on  all 
but  two  occasions  on  the  first  ballot,  and  has  proved  himself  a 
capable  and  efficient  official.  Since  his  election  as  president,  Mr. 
Burns  has,  in  every  year  except  one,  secured  for  the  glass  workers 
an  advance  of  ten  per  cent,  in  wages.  He  is  an  aggressive  leader, 
and  possesses  that  rare  brand  of  courage  which  has  the  singular 
charm  of  being  admired  by  others  besides  his  friends  and  associ- 
ates. In  November,  1900,  Mr.  Burns  was  elected  general  master 
workman  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  He  held  this  position  one  year, 
and  then  declined  a  unanimous  re-election,  which  was  tendered 
him  at  the  convention  held  in  Indianapolis,  in  November,  1901. 
Mr.  Burns  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He 
belongs  to  the  Catholic  church. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  31 

THEODORE  J.  SHAFFER,  president 
of  the  Amalgamated  association  of  iron, 
steel  and  tin  workers  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  was  born  in  Pittsburg  in 
1856,  raised  there,  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  began  selling  papers 
when  eight  years  old,  and  left  school  at 
the  age  of  twelve,  but  afterwards,  when 
nineteen  years  old,  resumed  his  studies 
under  the  private  tutorship  of  Prof. 
L.  M.  Eaton,  and  later  attended  the 
Western  university  in  Pittsburg.  When 
fourteen  years  old  he  began  work  in  the 
iron  mill  of  Moorhead,  McLean  &  Co.,  of  Pittsburg,  remaining 
there  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  worked  until  1872  at  the  Penn 
forge  (Everson,  Preston  &  Co.)  iron  mill  on  Second  avenue.  He 
was  employed  by  the  same  company  for  a  time  in  a  new  mill  at 
Scottdale,  Pa.,  but  returned  and  again  worked  at  the  Penn  forge. 
He  next  spent  three  years  in  the  employ  of  Bradley,  Rice  &  Co., 
returning  a  second  time  to  the  Penn  forge.  While  at  this  last 
employment,  he  studied  at  odd  times  under  Rev.  Dr.  W.  P.  Turner, 
a  Methodist  minister,  now  presiding  elder  in  the  Pittsburg  confer- 
ence. After  three  months'  preparation,  Mr.  Shaffer  went  before 
the  conference  committee  and  was  ordained  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Although  he  was  making  fifteen  dollars  a  day  at  his  trade,  he 
cheerfully  gave  up  his  position  and  began  his  ministerial  labors  at 
Confluence,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  at  a  salary  of  $500  a  year.  In  this 
mountainous  country  he  struggled  for  two  years,  walking  thirty- 
four  miles  a  day  in  all  kinds  of  weather  and  preaching  three  times. 
This  life  was  so  disastrous  to  his  health  that  he  was  compelled  to 
give  up  the  charge,  and  even  now  he  suffers  from  the  effects  of 
these  early  hardships.  He  spent  two  years  each  in  Washington 
and  Butler  counties,  holding  two  charges  in  each  and  preaching 
on  alternate  Sundays.  He  was  then  taken  from  the  circuit,  and 
was  given  charge  of  a  church  at  Brownsville,  Pa.,  for  two  years, 
and,  in  1888,  went  to  Johnstown,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  only  six 
months,  being  compelled  to  give  up  his  work  on  account  of  ill 
health.  He  went  to  Pittsburg,  a  dangerously  sick  man,  but,  after 
a  short  time,  his  inherent  energy  asserted  itself,  so  he  opened  a 
small  grocery  and  notion  store.  After  about  four  months  of  this 
work,  Mr.  Shaffer's  health  was  so  far  improved  that  he  was  again 
able  to  do  a  man's  work,  and,  giving  up  the  ministry  for  good,  he 


32  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

returned  to  the  iron  mills,  and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  the 
work  of  bettering  the  condition  of  his  fellow-workmen.  From 
August,  i88q,  to  October,  1894,  he  was  employed  as  a  rougher  and 
roller  in  the  Demmler  mill  of  the  United  States  sheet  steel  and  tin 
plate  company,  and,  after  an  idleness  of  eleven  months,  became 
roller  in  the  tin  mill  of  Oliver  Bros,  in  Pittsburg,  working  there 
until  April,  1897,  P^rt  of  the  time  as  acting  manager.  In  April, 
1897,  Mr.  Shaffer  was  placed  in  his  present  position  by  the  advisory 
board  of  the  association,  was  elected  to  the  position  a  month  later, 
and  has  been  re-elected  every  year  since  then.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  a 
member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  Royal  Arca- 
num, B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  the  Amalgamated  association  of  iron, 
steel  and  tin  workers.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  in  relig- 
ious belief  a  Methodist.  In  1902  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
municipal  improvement  committee  by  Recorder  Brown.  Both  of 
Mr.  Shaffer's  parents  are  living  in  the  East  End,  Pittsburg,  his 
father  at  the  age  of  ninety  and  his  mother  about  ten  years  younger. 
The  father,  Mathias  F.  Shaffer,  is  a  native  of  Carlsruhe,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  in  early  manhood,  in  1847. 

JOHN  CALDWELL,  alderman  from 
the  twenty-fourth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1842. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1855,  locating  in  Pittsburg,  where  he 
attended  the  parochial  schools.  Leaving 
school  when  fourteen  years  old,  he 
started  to  learn  the  saddlers'  trade,  and, 
in  August,  1 861,  enlisted  as  a  private  i-n 
Company  G,  4th  Pennsylvania  cavalry. 
Mr.  Caldwell's  career  in  the  Civil  war  is 
a  most  creditable  one.  His  first  term 
expiring  in  February,  1864,  here-enlisted, 
and  was  mustered  out  on  July  12,  1865,  although  the  papers  bear 
the  date,  July  i,  1865.  He  fought  with  distinction  in  the  great 
battles  of  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg,  and  later  at  second  Cold 
Harbor  and  the  Wilderness.  In  a  skirmish  with  Stuart's  cavalry, 
Feb.  25,  1863,  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left  ankle,  which  disabled 
him  until  October  of  that  year.  On  June  24,  1864,  he  was  captured 
and  confined  a  long  time  in  the  rebel  prisons.  He  was  first  taken 
to  Richmond,  to  Libby  prison,  thence  to  Lynchburg,  Va.,  and  from 
there  marched  to  Danville,  Va.     From  Danville  he  was  sent  by 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  33 

train  to  Andersonville,  and  held  in  this  famous  prison  from  July 
to  October.  After  this  he  was  taken  to  Blackshear,  then  to 
Charleston,  and  from  Charleston  was  moved  to  Florence,  S.  C, 
where  he  was  held  in  a  stockade  until  Dec.  13,  1864,  being  then 
paroled,  exchanged  and  sent  to  Annapolis.  He  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  in  April,  1865.  Sliortly  after  enlistment 
he  was  made  corporal,  and  came  out  with  the  rank  of  sergeant. 
The  war  over,  Mr.  Caldwell  became  a  street  car  conductor,  and 
was  employed  thus  for  twelve  years  with  the  exception  of  two 
years,  from  1870  to  1872,  when  he  worked  in  a  foundry  at  West 
Point.  In  November,  1880,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lake 
Erie  railroad  company,  remaining  with  them  but  a  short  time,  and 
later  v/ent  to  work  for  Jones  &  Laughlin.  Mr.  Caldwell  was 
elected  alderman  in  February,  1891,  and  has  been  twice  re-elected. 
In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  in  religious  belief  a  Catholic.  He 
is  a  member  of  Union  Veteran  legion.  No.  i,  of  Pittsburg. 

JAMES  BURNETT  HAMILTON,  a 
prominent  republican  politician  of  Pitts- 
biirg,  was  born  in  Elizabeth,  Allegheny 
Co.,  Pa.,  March  12,  1849,  and  has  lived 
in  Elizabeth  most  of  his  life.  He  came 
to  Pittsburg  when  five  years  old,  but 
afterwards  returned  to  Elizabeth,  where 
he  was  educated  at  Elizabeth  academy, 
from  which  he  graduated.  He  then 
learned  the  carpenters'  trade,  at  which 
he  was  engaged  until  1880,  doing  most  of 
his  work  in  Elizabeth.  In  that  year  he 
entered  the  prothonotary's  oflfice,  in 
which  his  ability  and  faithfulness  won  him  promotion  to  chief 
clerk.  In  the  last  election  he  was  chosen  to  the  office  of  prothon- 
otary.  Mr.  Hamilton  became  a  member  of  the  State  militia  in 
1869,  enlisting  as  a  private  in  Company  A,  19th  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania national  guard,  and  served  until  mustered  out  in  1874,  having 
risen  in  the  meantime  to  the  position  of  first  sergeant  of  his  com- 
pany. In  1880  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I  of  the  same 
regiment,  later  became  captain  of  Company  L,  and,  in  October, 
1898,  was  made  major  of  the  regiment.  On  April  28,  1898,  the 
14th  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  at  Camp  Hastings,  Pa.,  for 
service  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  Mr.  Hamilton  went  there 
with  his  regiment,  following  it  thence  to  various  forts,  and  finally 
1-3 


34  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

to  Charleston,  S.  C,  where  he  remained  until  mustered  out,  Feb. 
28,  1899,  ^nd  later  returned  to  his  place  in  the  prothonotarj^'s 
office.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  B.  P.  O.  E., 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encampment,  K.  of  P.,  and  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  long 
been  prominent  in  Allegheny  county  politics,  has  been  a  member  of 
the  republican  county  executive  committee  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  and  was  for  five  years  prior  to  1901  secretary  of  the  com- 
mittee. He  was  a  member  of  the  Elizabeth  board  of  education  for 
fifteen  years,  serving  for  twelve  years  of  that  time  as  its  president. 

A.  H.  LESLIE,  director  of  the  depart- 
ment of  public  safety,  of  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  in 
1853,  and  spent  his  early  life  there, 
attending  the  common  schools.  His 
father,  Malichie  Leslie,  dying  in  1868, 
the  son  came  to  Pittsburg,  went  to  school 
for  about  two  months  and  then  started 
to  learn  the  carpenters'  trade.  He  served 
a  three-year  apprenticeship  at  this  voca- 
tion, and  finding  it  too  severe  for  his 
health,  entered  the  employ  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Valley  railroad  company,  where 
he  worked  first  as  a  brakeman,  then  as  flagman,  and  finally  as 
freight  conductor.  In  1872  Mr.  Leslie  gave  up  railroading  and 
went  into  the  fire  insurance  business,  also  taking  up  real  estate 
after  a  time.  In  1880  he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  seven 
teenth  ward  for  a  five-year  term,  and  in  this  position  his  ability 
and  attention  to  duty  won  him  re-election  three  times.  When 
there  were  still  four  years  to  serve  on  his  last  term,  Mr,  Leslie 
resigned,  Aug.  i,  1896,  to  accept  the  office  of  superintendent  of 
police,  serving  in  this  position  until  Oct.  i,  1901,  and  was  then 
thrown  out  of  office  by  the  provisions  of  the  Ripper  bill.  He  was 
appointed  to  his  present  office  on  Nov.  26,  1901,  by  Recorder  J.  O. 
Brown,  and  has  proved  a  faithful  and  capable  official.  Mr.  Leslie 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Knights  Templars  and  Mystic 
Shrine,  the  L  O.  O.  F.,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  and  Knights  of  the  Mystic 
Chain.  He  was  for  two  years,  1886-1888,  grand  chief  templar  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  35 

©JOHN  H.  HENDERSON,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in 
Meadville,  Pa.,  Sept.  9,  1866.  He  was 
educated  at  Carrier  institute.  Clarion, 
Pa.,  and  at  Allegheny  college,  Meadville. 
He  read  law  with  his  father,  Harvey 
Henderson,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Allegheny  county  in  March,  1889, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged, 
with  his  father,  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. For  several  years  he  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  republi- 
can party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
State  convention  of  1896,  and  the  following  year  was  elected  to  the 
Allegheny  city  council.  In  1898  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  State  house  of  representatives,  and  again  in  the  year  1900. 
The  ancestor  of  the  Henderson  family  who  first  settled  in  America 
was  Robert,  a  Scotch-Irishman,  who  emigrated  from  County 
Cavan,  Ireland,  in  1795;  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and  came  west- 
ward to  Pittsburg,  where  he  remained  until  1799.  He  removed 
with  his  family,  who  were  then  adults,  to  "Worth  township,  Mercer 
county,  where  he  settled  and  where  many  of  his  descendants  still 
reside.  Robert  Henderson's  son,  John,  who  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  was  married  to  Mary  Carroll,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son,  in 
1 801,  whom  they  named  William  Carroll.  This  son  afterwards 
became  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a 
constituent  member  of  the  Pittsburg  conference  of  that  church, 
formed  in  1825.  He  was  an  active  member  of  this  conference 
until  1853,  when,  to  enable  him  more  readily  to  educate  his  chil- 
dren, he  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  conference,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  at  his  death,  in  1882.  William  C.  Henderson  was  married 
to  Eliza  Fawcett,  born  in  South  Fayette  township,  Allegheny 
county,  in  1813,  daughter  of  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
neighborhood  in  1748,  and  whose  father,  John  Fawcett,  emigrated 
from  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1769;  was  married  to  Ann  Fawcett, 
at  Winchester,  Va.,  and  removed  to  Cecil  township,  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  1772,  where  he  died,  in  1810.  William  C.  Henderson 
and  his  wife,  Eliza,  had  five  children,  one  of  whom,  Anna,  died  in 
early  life.  Harvey,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Ross  township,  Allegheny  county;  educated  at  Allegheny 
college,  Meadville;  read  law;  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  Meadville  ten  years.     During  this  time  he 


36  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

served  a  term  as  district  attorney,  and  held  other  public  offices. 
He  has  resided  in  Allegheny  county,  and  practiced  law  there,  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty-one  years.  He  was  married  to  Harriet  J. 
Hogeboom,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  who  descended  from  one  of  the 
families  who  emigrated  from  Holland  and  settled  in  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y.,  soon  after  the  discovery  of  the  Hudson  river.  This 
family  has  produced  a  number  of  men  of  note  in  the  history  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  Jeremiah  Hogeboom  was  colonel  of  the  first 
regiment  raised  in  Columbia  county  for  service  in  the  Revolution, 
John  T.  was  a  judge  in  the  county  just  named,  and  Henry  served 
with  distinction  on  the  bench  of  the  court  of  appeals  of  his  State. 
Harvey  Henderson's  three  brothers  reside  in  Meadville.  Edward  H. 
(retired)  and  John  J.  served  through  the  Civil  war.  John  J.  is 
now  one  of  the  judges  of  the  superior  court  of  this  State. 
William  W.  is  a  lawyer.  Harvey  Henderson's  other  surviving 
children  are:  Gertrude  H.,  wife  of  Archibald  G.  Hamilton,  and 
Miss  Grace  Henderson,  all  of  Allegheny  city. 

THOMAS  DORRINGTON  CARNA- 
HAN,  city  solicitor  of  Pittsburg,  was 
born  on  the  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  and 
there  was  reared  and  received  his  early 
education.  Subsequently  he  attended 
the  Western  university  at  Pittsburg, 
graduating  in  1872.  After  graduation, 
he  became  a  reporter  on  the  Pittsburg 
Evening  Chronicle,  and  was  connected 
with  this  paper  from  the  fall  of  1872  to 
the  spring  of  1881.  Mr.  Carnahan  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876,  and  was 
associated  with  his  father,  Robert  B. 
Carnahan,  in  the  practice  of  law  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  which 
occurred  in  1890.  He  devoted  his_attention  at  first  to  office  work, 
but  has  since  1881  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
the  civil  courts,  where  he  has  met  with  marked  success.  Mr. 
Carnahan  was  appointed  assistant  city  solicitor  in  1888,  and  served 
in  this  capacity  until  January,  1902,  when  he  was  appointed  city 
solicitor  by  Recorder  J.  O  Brown.  Mr.  Carnahan  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  belongs  to  the  Third  Presbyterian  church. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  of 
which  he  is  an  honored  alumnus. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  37 

CHARLES  DAVIS,  county  engineer 
for  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  was  born  at 
Bridgetown,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1837,  and 
spent  the  first  nineteen  years  of  his  life 
in  that  part  of  Pennsylvania.  After  the 
usual  preparation,  he  entered  Jefferson 
college,  but  gave  up  his  books  in  his  - 
junior  year  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army 
as  a  private  in  Company  D,  loth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  reserve  volunteer 
corps.  He  served  three  years,  until 
June,  1864,  being  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  in  1862,  and  in  command  of 
his  company  the  latter  part  of  the  last  year  of  his  term  of  service. 
He  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  but 
was  recaptured  a  few  days  later  by  Sheridan's  cavalry  at  Beaver 
Dam  Station.  During  the  war  he  took  part  in  the  following 
engagements:  the  seven  days'  battles  on  the  peninsula,  also  South 
Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Bristoe  Station, 
the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  and  Bethesda  church.  His  war 
service  completed,  Mr.  Davis  took  up  engineering  for  a  livelihood, 
and  has  been  successful  in  his  chosen  vocation.  He  was  first 
engaged  as  transitman  on  railroad  surveys  in  Lawrence  county, 
Pa.,  and  then,  for  two  years,  was  employed  as  assistant  engineer  by 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad  company,  under  Antes  Snyder,  on  the 
Western  Pennsylvania  railroad.  From  1867  to  1876,  inclusive,  he 
was  city  engineer  of  Allegheny  city.  During  his  term  of  office  as 
city  engineer  he  designed  the  sewerage  system  and  superintended 
the  construction  of  the  parks  of  Allegheny.  On  his  recommenda- 
tion, the  city  council  secured  the  passage  of  an  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture authorizing  the  present  lot  registry  system.  This  system  has 
since  been  extended  to  Pittsburg.  While  city  engineer  he  was 
made  consulting  engineer  on  the  construction  of  the  Point  bridge 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Monongahela  river.  After  this  he  was 
engaged  in  the  preliminary  surveys  and  construction  of  the  Pitts- 
burg &  Lake  Erie  railroad,  and  while  there  he  made  the  prelimi- 
nary survey  for  its  extension  to  Connellsville,  then  known  as  the 
Pittsburg  &  Youghiogheny  river  railroad ;  then  for  a  year  a  resi- 
dent engineer  on  the  construction  of  buildings  of  the  Pittsburg 
Bessemer  steel  company,  which  is  now  a  part  of  the  Homestead 
steel  works.  Following  this,  he  was  made  engineer  for  the 
Monongahela  bridge  company,  which  was  then  reconstructing  its 


38  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

suspension  bridge  at  the  end  of  Smithfield  street.  Before  the  work 
had  progressed  very  far,  the  ownership  changed,  and  plans  were 
adopted  under  which  the  present  Smithfield  street  bridge  was  con- 
structed by  Mr.  Lindenthal.  Mr.  Davis  was  retained  as  an  assist- 
ant engineer  on  this  work  for  some  time.  In  1881  he  was  made 
county  engineer  of  Allegheny  county,  and  has  held  this  responsible 
position  ever  since.  During  his  long  career  Mr.  Davis  has  gained 
many  honors.  He  has  been  breveted  first  lieutenant  and  captain 
of  the  United  States  volunteers,  was  made  commissioner  to  the 
Vienna  exposition  in  1873,  under  appointment  by  President  Grant, 
and,  in  1887,  was  given  the  degree  of  A.  M.  by  Washington  and 
Jefferson  college.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  society  of  civil 
engineers  and  the  Engineers'  society  of  western  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  Pittsburg  academy  of  science  and  art.  He  is  also  prominent 
among  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Legion;  Post  No.  i,  Union  Veteran  legion,  and  Post  No.  88,  G.  A.  R. 
He  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  Masonry,  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
a  Presbyterian  in  religion,  being  a  member  of  the  North  Presby- 
terian church  of  Allegheny  city. 

J.  GUY  McCANDLESS,  director  of 
the  department  of  public  works,  Pitts- 
burg, and  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  physicians  of  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  in  Ferryville,  Allegheny 
county,  Jan.  i,  1839.  He  is  descended 
on  both  his  father's  and  mother's  side 
from  early  settlers  of  Allegheny  county. 
His  great-grandfather,  William  McCand- 
less,  came  to  America  in  a  very  early 
day,  and  died  in  Washington  county.  Pa. 
William's  son,  Archibald,  born  in  Alle- 
gheny county  in  1756,  was  for  half  a  cen- 
tury elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Alexander  G.  McCandless, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county, 
Jan.  15,  1816,  being  one  of  the  thirteen  children  of  Archibald 
McCandless,  He  was  for  many  years  a  practicing  physician  in 
Pittsburg,  and  died  Feb.  24,  1875.  His  wife,  Margaret  A.  (Guy) 
McCandless,  whom  he  married  on  Feb.  15,  1838,  was  descended 
from  settlers  who  came  to  Allegheny  county  in  the  old  days  when 
the  Indians  infested  the  district.  Dr.  J.  Guy  McCandless  received 
a  common-school  education  in  Pittsburg,  attended  the  Cleveland 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  39 

medical  college  a  year  and  was  graduated  from  the  Jefferson  medical 
college  in  1863.  He  also  taught  school  for  a  time.  Dr.  McCandless 
served  three  years  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  as  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  5  2d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  He  was  afterwards 
made  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  Cotton  Factory  hospital  at  Harris- 
burg,  and  lived  there  until  the  close  of  the  war,  ranking  as  major. 
During  his  service  he  was  under  fire  in  the  Peninsular  campaign, 
at  Fair  Oaks,  the  "Wilderness  and  Yorktown.  Returning  after  the 
war  to  Pittsburg,  he  has  since  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  there.  He  has  also  a  long  and  creditable  career  in  the 
public  service,  and  has  taken  great  interest  in  republican  politics. 
Dr.  McCandless  has  served  on  the  school  board  as  member  and 
also  as  president  of  the  Franklin  board,  and  has  represented  his 
ward  in  both  the  common  and  select  councils  of  Pittsburg,  acting 
as  president  of  each.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  formerly,  for  fourteen  years,  surgeon 
of  the  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  has 
been  an  elder  since  1875.  Dr.  McCandless  has  been  twice  married. 
By  his  first  marriage,  to  Emma  Jones,  he  has  one  son,  Guy,  now 
engaged  in  the  men's  furnishing  business.  In  1876  he  married 
Margaret  E.  Cluley,  daughter  of  John  F.  Cluley,  and  has  by  this 
union  three  children,  Walter  C,  Ida  May  and  Alexander  Wilson. 

ANTON  LUTZ,  of  the  firm  of  D. 
Lutz  &  Son  brewing  company,  brewers, 
of  Allegheny  city,  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  in  1853.  He  was  reared  in  Alle- 
gheny city  and  attended  school  there, 
afterwards  pursuing  his  studies  in  the 
classical  school  in  Pittsburg,  taught  by 
Professor  Hoontz.  When  seventeen 
years  old,  he  left  school  and  entered  his 
father's  brewery  in  Allegheny  city,  and 
has  been,  since  1879,  a  member  of  the 
firm.  The  D.  Lutz  &  Son  brewery  is 
an  old  and  well-established  concern  and 
is  doing  a  flourishing  business.  Mr.  Lutz  was  a  school  director 
from  1 88 1  to  1891.  He  was  for  many  years  interested  in  the  Third 
National  bank,  and  is  now  director  of  the  Allegheny  trust  com- 
pany. He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  In  religious  belief  Mr. 
Lutz  is  a  Catholic. 


40  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

t  WILLIAM  L  MUSTIN,  a  prominent 
Pittsburg  business  man  and  former  presi- 
dent of  the  Pittsburg-  stock  exchange, 
comes  from  a  long  line  of  distinguished 
ancestors.  On  his  father's  side  he  is 
descended  from  French  Huguenots,  who 
were  forced  by  religious  persecution  to 
emigrate  to  England,  where  the  family- 
name  was  changed  from  Moustain  to  the 
present  form  of  spelling.  The  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  the  first  of  the  family  to  emigrate  to 
America,  became  a  merchant  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  his  son,  Anthony  Mustin,  was  the  first  to  establish  in 
Philadelphia  what  is  known  as  a  "trimming  store,"  James  G. 
Mustin,  son  of  Anthony  and  father  of  William  L,  was  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  and  for  some  years  engaged  there  in  the  trimming 
business.  He  came  to  Pittsburg  in  1840,  became  connected  with 
the  Logan-Gragg  hardware  company,  and  continued  in  the  hard- 
ware business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1864.  His 
wife,  Frances  (Irwin)  Mustin,  died  in  Pittsburg,  Feb.  24,  1897. 
She  was  a  granddaughter  of  John  Irwin,  who  was  born  in  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  in  1772,  residing  for  a  number  of  years  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  then,  in  1790,  came  to  the  village  of  Pittsburg. 
Here  he  opened  the  first  dry-goods  store,  located  at  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Market  streets,  and  continued  in  that  business  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1830.  A  son  of 
John  Irwin,  William  Wallace,  grandfather  of  William  I.  Mustin, 
was  for  many  years  prominent  in  Pittsburg  politics,  at  first  as  a 
whig  and  later  as  a  democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  congress, 
mayor  of  Pittsburg  in  1839,  and,  by  appointment  of  President 
Tyler,  served  as  United  States  minister  to  Denmark.  He  died  in 
Pittsburg,  in  September,  1856.  William  I.  Mustin,  the  subject  of 
this  article,  was  one  of  five  children,  of  whom  two  besides  himself 
are  living:  Caroline  Denny,  wife  of  George  W.  Nicholson,  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  Edwin  T.,  a  commercial  traveler.  Mr.  Mustin  was  born 
in  Pittsburg,  June  8,  i860,  and  was  educated  at  home,  under  the 
direction  of  his  mother.  He  began  to  learn  the  printers'  trade  at  an 
early  age,  and,  on  Oct.  9,  187 1,  entered  the  employ  of  George  B. 
Hill.  In  1881  he  was  admitted  to  partnership,  which  relationship 
continued  until  Mr.  Hill  died,  in  1900.  In  political  belief  he  is  an 
ardent  republican,  and  has  long  been  a  prominent  factor  in  Pitts- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  41 

burg  politics.  He  was,  from  1898  to  1902,  a  member  of  the  select 
council  of  Pittsburg;  councilmanic  trustee  of  the  Carnegie  library 
and  Carnegie  institute  from  April,  1900,  to  April,  1902;  president 
of  the  Americus  club  from  1894  to  1898;  has  been  vice-president  of 
the  Mozart  club  since  1890;  served  five  years  as  president  of  the 
stock  exchange,  and  it  is  largely  by  his  efforts  that  the  exchange 
owns  and  occupies  its  present  building.  He  is  past  eminent  com- 
mander of  Tancred  commandery.  No.  48,  Knights  Templars,  and 
a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  belongs  to  the  following  clubs: 
Monongahela,  Duquesne,  Americus,  Masonic  country.  Browning 
and  Fishing,  all  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Art 
society,  and  is  a  patron  of  the  Pittsburg  orchestra.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Manufacturers'  club,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  New  York 
athletic  club,  of  New  York.  On  April  12,  1883,  Mr.  Mustin  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Isabel  Dorrington,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Dorrington,  and  has  three  children.  Burton  Hill,  Eleanor 
Dorrington  and  Agnes  Mahon. 

DAVID  J.  McGAREY,   police  magis- 

C^.^'  .  trate  and  alderman  from  the  twenty-sixth 

\  ward,    Pittsburg,    is   a   well-known    and 

dg^  prominent   politician.      He    was   born  in 

^  Pittsburg,  Aug.    16,    1859,    reared   there 

*^Pl  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.     In 

1872  he  left  school  and  went  to  work  in 
the  tack  factory  of  Chess,  Cook  &  Co., 
and  remained  for  seventeen  years  in  the 
employ  of  this  firm.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  prominent  in  public  life,  as 
alderman  and  police  magistrate.  Judge 
McGarey  was  elected  alderman  from  the 
twenty-sixth  ward  in  1889,  and  has  been  three  times  re-elected. 
His  career  as  a  police  magistrate  began  in  1896.  He  was  appointed 
to  this  position  by  Mayor  H.  P.  Ford  and  Mayor  W.  J.  Diehl, 
reappointed  by  Recorder  A.  M.  Brown,  and,  after  the  latter's 
removal,  by  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown.  Judge  McGarey  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Jr.  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  Birming- 
ham Turnverein,  Odd  Fellows,  Leider  Tafel  and  the  Lotus  club. 
Judge  McGarey  is  now  engaged  in  the  mantel  and  tile  business  at 
No.  12 1 1  Carson  St.,  as  the  president  of  the  Central  mantel  and 
tile  company.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Central  brick  company, 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa. 


42  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

-^  THOMAS  FORDING,  superintendent 

of  the  bureau  of  water  assessment,  of 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  what  is  now  Pitts- 
burg, and  has  spent  most  of  his  life  within 
the  present  city  limits.  He  was  born  in 
1841,  and  taken,  in  infancy,  by  his  par- 
ents to  what  was  then  called  Elliott's 
Delight,  later  Temperanceville,  and  now 
thirty-sixth  ward,  Pittsburg,  Here  Mr. 
Fording  was  reared  and  given  a  limited 
education.  His  father  was  killed  by  a 
boiler  explosion,  so  the  boy  left  school  at 
ten  years  of  age,  and  was  employed  first 
for  a  year  in  an  ax  factory,  and  then  in  a  nail  factory.  In  August, 
1862,  he  enlisted  to  fight  for  his  country  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a 
private  in  Battery  E,  Mississippi  marine  brigade,  light  artillery, 
where  he  served  with  distinction  throughout  the  war.  After  the 
engagement  at  Vicksburg,  he  was  promoted  for  bravery  in  battle 
to  the  position  of  first  duty  sergeant,  in  accordance  with  the  fol- 
lowing order  issued  by  Capt.  D.  P.  Walling,  commanding  the 
battery : 

Vicksburg,   Miss., 
Headquarters  Light  Battery,  M.  M.  B., 
Copy  July  22,  1863. 

Battery  Order,  No.  5. 

Promotion — Corporal  Thomas  Fording  to  be  sergeant  for  gal- 
lantry in  action  on  De  Soto  Point,  opposite  Vicksburg,  June  21st 
and  22nd,  1863,  vice  James  A.  Nevin,  dead.— To  rank  from 
July  ist,  1863.  D.  P.  Walling, 

Capt.  Com'g  Battery,  M.  M    B. 

Mr.  Fording  served  in  this  capacity  until  February,  1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Vicksburg.  During  the  war,  he  fought  in 
the  Red  river  campaign,  on  the  Black  river,  at  Vicksburg  and  in 
many  minor  engagements.  The  war  over,  he  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg and  resumed  his  work  in  the  nail  factory.  In  1867  he  went 
to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  where  he  worked  about  two  years.  Return- 
ing to  Pittsburg,  he  worked  in  the  nail  factory  again  until  1873, 
when  he  was  appointed  inspector  of  the  board  of  health.  He 
served  in  this  capacity  until  1878,  and  then  the  coimcil  elected  him 
street  commissioner.  This  position  Mr.  Fording  filled  most  credit- 
ably for  fifteen  years,  the  title  being  changed,  in  1888,  to  assistant 
superintendent  of  streets.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  to  his  present 
office,  where  he  has  made  an  enviable  record  as  an  able  and  faith- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


43 


ful  public  servant.  Mr.  Fording  is  a  member  of  Garfield  post, 
No.  215,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  was  commander  for  five  consecutive 
years,  1895  to  1900.  He  is  at  present  treasurer  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
association  of  Allegheny  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
Templars  and  Mystic  Shrine  and  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and  has  been 
for  the  past  twenty-one  years  treasurer  of  St.  Clair  lodge,  No.  362, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  Mr.  Fording  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


G.  WASH  MOORE,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  city  property,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  Pittsburg  in  1847,  and  there 
reared  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  When  twelve  years  old,  he  left 
school  and  spent  two  years  working  in  a 
machine  shop,  and  then  learned  the  car- 
penters' trade.  In  1868  he  began  a  long 
and  eventful  career  in  the  public  service, 
as  hose-man  in  the  volunteer  fire  depart- 
ment of  Lawrenceville.  This  suburb 
was  made  a  part  of  Pittsburg  the  same 
year,  and,  in  1870,  Mr.  Moore  became 
hose-man  in  the  Pittsburg  fire  department.  After  about  five 
years'  service  in  this  capacity  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
captain,  and  acted  as  such  for  about  twelve  years.  In  1885  he  was 
elected  member  of  the  State  legislature  from  the  fourth,  now  the 
fifth,  district  and,  in  1887,  was  re-elected.  Between  his  terms  in 
the  legislature  he  was  elected  assistant  chief  engineer  of  the  Pitts- 
burg fire  department  and  served  about  a  year.  After  his  second 
term  in  the  legislature,  Mr.  Moore  filled  the  position  of  sanitary 
officer  in  the  bureau  of  health,  and,  in  1893,  was  appointed  wharf- 
master,  but  resigned  thirty  days  later  to  accept  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  bureau  of  city  property.  In  1901  he  was 
thrown  out  of  office  by  the  Ripper  bill,  but  was  reinstated  five 
months  later  by  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown.  Mr.  Moore  has  bee.n  con- 
nected with  the  city  service  for  thirty-three  years,  excepting  the 
two  years  in  the  State  legislature,  and  has  an  enviable  record  for 
faithful  and  efficient  service.  At  present  he  is  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  health,  his  appointment  dating  April  i,  1903.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Methodist. 


44  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

CHARLES  A.  MUEHLBRONNER, 
the  leading  produce  merchant  of  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa,, 
May  lo,  1857.  His  parents  moved,  when 
Mr.  Muehlbronner  was  a  baby,  to  La 
Grange,  Ohio,  thence  to  Richmond,  Ky  , 
and  afterwards,  in  1865,  came  to  Pitts- 
burg, where  their  son  attended  the  public 
schools  until  his  fifteenth  year.  At  this 
time  he  started  to  learn  painting,  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  about  eighteen 
months,  afterwards  spending  four  years 
as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  in  Allegheny  city. 
He  went  to  San  Francisco,  remaining  there  as  a  painter  for  about  a 
year  and  a  half,  and  then  returned  to  Allegheny  city,  where  he  sold 
grocers'  supplies  for  two  and  a  half  years.  He  then  started  a 
poultry  business  in  Pittsburg,  later  adding  vegetables  to  his  stock, 
and  from  this  humble  beginning  he  has  built  up  the  Iron  City  pro- 
duce company,  now  "the  largest  house  of  its  kind  in  Pittsburg, 
occupying  a  large  four-story  building  at  No.  623  Libert}''  Ave.,  and 
handling  about  $600,000  worth  of  produce  annually.  This 
immense  business  is  carried  on  entirely  by  correspondence,  no 
traveling  salesmen  being  employed,  yet  the  better  class  of  trade 
send  in  orders  by  mail,  knowing  that  they  will  receive  prompt  and 
careful  attention.  Over  21,000  carloads  of  produce  were  handled 
by  the  firm  in  1902,  besides  a  large  amount  that  was  received  and 
shipped  by  boat,  the  river  trade  being  an  important  factor  in  the 
growing  business  of  the  company.  In  all  his  dealings  Mr. 
Muehlbronner  has  been  fair  and  honorable,  and  he  has  an  enviable 
reputation  for  unimpeachable  integrity  in  his  business  life. 
Besides  his  vast  produce  interests,  he  is  a  director  in  the  Western 
savings  and  deposit  bank,  a  director  in  the  German  National  bank 
of  Pittsburg  and  the  Central  savings  and  trust  company  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  German-American  savings  and  trust  company. 
His  political  career  has  been  such  as  reflects  great  credit  upon  him- 
self. For  three  years  he  was  tax  collector  for  the  seventh  ward  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  while  serving  in  this  capacity,  he  was  elected 
to  the  school  board  and  afterwards  to  the  common  council,  so  that 
at  the  same  time  he  held  three  public  offices,  discharging  the  duties 
of  each  with  great  care  and  fidelity.  His  ability  and  attention  to  the 
public  welfare  won  him  a  re-election  to  the  common  council,  and 
then    a   place   in  the  select  council.     While  serving  in  the  latter 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  45 

body,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  legislature,  in  1890,  and  he  there- 
fore resigned  his  seat  in  the  council  after  serving  two  years.  He 
served  four  terms  of  two  years  each  in  the  legislature,  and,  in  1898, 
was  elected  to  the  State  senate  for  a  four-year  term.  In  all  this 
long  political  service  he  has  ever  had  the  welfare  of  his  constituents 
at  heart,  and  his  political  opponents  have  never  been  able  to  attack 
his  standing  or  character.  Mr.  Muehlbronner  is  prominent  in  the 
social  life  of  Pittsburg,  being  a  member  of  the  Teutonia  and  the 
Turners,  as  well  as  other  social  organizations.  He  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason,  and  a  noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  several  other  fraternal 
orders,  and  is  a  contributing  member  to  the  German  Lutheran 
church. 

THOMAS  PERRY,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  public  lighting,  Pittsburg, 
has  for  years  been  prominent  in  republi- 
can politics,  and  has  held  many  positions 
of  responsibility  in  the  public  service. 
He  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  1858,  and 
^^^  there  reared  and  educated,  attending  the 

.^B^  ^^^         public    schools    and    later    the    Western 
^^^L         Mt^tllli       university,    where    he    studied    for   four 
^(^^■"^  ^Kf^m         years.     He  left  the  university  in   June, 
^^H      ^^^jm  1877,  and,  in   1879,  entered  the    office    of 

^^  '^^^  the  county  sheriff  as  clerk,  under  Sheriff 

Thomas  H.  Hunter,  remaining  there 
three  years.  After  this  he  was  clerk  in  the  county  treasurer's 
office  for  two  years,  and  for  two  and  a  half  years  clerk  in  the  post- 
office.  In  1885  Mr.  Perry  went  into  the  grocery  business,  was 
engaged  in  this  business  for  three  years,  and  again  returning  to 
the  postoffice,  served  as  clerk  for  two  and  a  half  years  longer.  In 
1893  he  resigned  this  position  to  accept  the  office  of  wharfmaster, 
being  employed  in  this  capacity  for  seven  years.  In  July,  1900, 
he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position,  and  was  deposed,  June  i, 
1901,  by  Recorder  E.  M.  Bigelow.  He  was  then  employed  for  six 
months  in  the  office  of  the  county  commissioner  as  inspector  of 
county  roads,  and,  on  Dec.  i,  1901,  was  reappointed  to  his  old  posi- 
tion as  superintendent  of  the  department  of  public  lighting  by  Dr. 
J.  Guy  McCandless,  director  of  the  department  of  public  works.  Tn 
religious  belief  Mr.  Perry  is  a  Methodist, 


46  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  R.  ROWE,  general  man- 
ager of  the  Pittsburg  Gazette  and  Chron- 
icle-Telegraph, Pittsburg,  was  born  at 
Confluence,  Pa.,  in  1872,  and,  in  1874, 
came  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  reared, 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
Beginning  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
worked  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
eighteen  in  the  drug  business,  and  then 
became  assistant  bookkeeper  in  the  office 
of  the  Pittsburg  Press.  He  remained 
with  the  Press  ten  years,  rising  to  the 
position  of  advertising  manager,  and,  in 

1900,  was  made  business   manager  of   the    Gazette,  and,   early   in 

1901,  became  business  manager  of  the  Chronicle-Telegraph,  when 
that  paper  was  acquired  by  Mr.  George  T.  Oliver.     In  September, 

1902,  he  was  made  general  manager  of  both  these  papers.  Mr, 
Rowe  is  a  rising  young  business  man,  who  has  in  the  few  years  of 
his  service  exhibited  great  ability  in  his  line  of  work.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Presbyterian. 

JAMES  McCLURG  GUFFEY,  the 
Pittsburg  oil  and  gas  king,  and  the 
largest  individual  producer  of  oil  and 
natural  gas  in  this  country,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county.  Pa.,  in  1839.  He 
u«  ^^^^^iHF  ^^H  ^^  *-*^  Scotch  descent,  and  his  ancestors 
H^h^|^^HH|ll^|^H  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  western 
■^  -■  JP^^B^^^^^^  Pennsylvania,  where  they  located  in 
colonial  times,  probably  about  1750. 
James  M.  Guflfey  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  later  the  Iron  City  college, 
from  which  he  graduated,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  obtained  a  clerkship  in  the 
office  of  the  superintendent  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  railroad 
company,  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  was  employed  by  this  company 
several  years,  for  a  time  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  by  the  Adams 
southern  express  company,  and,  in  1870,  returned  to  Pennsylvania 
to  engage  in  the  petroleum  business  as  a  producer.  Mr.  Guffey 
acquired  large  interests  at  St.  Petersburg,  in  Clarion  county,  and 
subsequently  made  Bradford  the  base  of  his  operations.      He  also 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  47 

opened  the  Grapeville  gas  field  and  controlled  it  until  it  was  taken 
by  a  corporation.  This  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  gas  fields  and 
brought  vast  wealth  to  the  enterprising  operator,  who  also  acquired 
large  interests  in  the  Murraysville  field.  Mr.  Guffey  is  a  man  of 
sound  judgment  and  wonderful  executive  ability.  In  politics  he  is 
an  ardent  democrat,  firm  in  his  loyalty  to  the  principles  of  his 
party  and  always  ready  to  make  personal  sacrifices  for  the  party's 
benefit.  Mr.  Guffey  came  to  Pittsburg  about  fifteen  years  ago. 
He  is  married  and  lives  in  the  East  End. 

MORRIS  W.  MEAD,  superintendent 
of  the  bureau  of  electricity,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  at  Underhill,  Vt.  (now  New 
Burlington),  Oct.  28,  1854.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Daniel  C.  and  Naomie  E. 
(Terrel)  Mead,  and  a  grandson  of  Josiah 
Mead,  a  farmer  of  Underhill  and  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  the  old  Vermont  families. 
Daniel  C.  Mead,  born  in  Underhill  in 
1828,  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  day, 
and  was  an  early  oil  prospector  and 
promoter  of  manufacturing  enterprises. 
He  died  in  1874,  and  his  wife  in  1875. 
Morris  W.  Mead,  whose  name  heads  this  article,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  fourteenth  ward,  Pittsburg,  and 
at  the  Pittsburg  high  school,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1873.  He  also  attended  the  University  of  Underhill.  He  read 
law  two  years  with  J.  H.  Baldwin,  then,  after  his  father's  death, 
spent  two  years  in  the  oil  business,  and  returning  to  Pittsburg  in 
1877,  became  head  salesman  in  the  establishment  of  J.  R.  &  A. 
Murdoch.  Shortly  after  this  Mr.  Mead  entered  the  city  fire  alarm 
office  as  operator,  was  made  chief  operator  a  year  later,  and  two 
years  after  that  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Fire  Alarm 
telegraph  While  holding  this  last  position  he  was  also  made 
secretary  of  the  fire  commission,  and  for  two  years  held  both 
offices.  It  was  Mr.  Mead  who  introduced  the  police  telephone  sys- 
tem of  the  department  of  public  safety.  When  the  new  city  charter 
went  into  effect  in  1887,  Mr.  Mead  became  head  of  the  newly  estab- 
lished bureau  of  electricity,  a  bureau  which  has  charge  of  all  the 
electrical  interests  of  Pittsburg,  including  the  control  of  electric 
railroads,  safety  arrangements  for  electrical  propulsion,  inspections 
of  all  electric  power  and  light  wires,  and  so  forth.     In  performing 


48  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

the  duties  of  his  office,  Mr.  Mead  has  shown  such  rare  judgment 
and  unusual  ability  that  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  the  public. 
Under  his  supervision  there  has  been  installed  in  Pittsburg  as  fine 
a  system  of  police  and  fire  alarm  and  electrical  inspection  as  can 
be  found  in  the  United  States.  He  is  also  the  inventor  of  a  scheme 
for  protecting  underground  wires  by  means  of  a  rubber  covering. 
Mr.  Mead  married  Johanna  E.  Ecker,  sister  of  H.  P.  Ecker,  city 
organist  of  Allegheny,  and  lives  with  his  wife  in  Oakland,  East 
End.  They  are  members  of  the  Bellefield  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Mead  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in 
which  he  has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Shriner, 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  Knights  of  Pythias,  B.  P.  O.  Elks, 
Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  and  a  past  master  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was,  in 
1900,  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  International  asso- 
ciation of  municipal  electricians,  was  president  of  the  association 
in  1901  and  is  still  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
organization.  He  is  also  an  honorary  member  of  the  National 
electric  light  association,  and  of  the  electrical  committee  of  the 
International  association  of  chief  engineers  of  fire  departments. 
In  1893  he  was  one  of  the  three  assistants  to  the  manager  of  the 
electrical  department  of  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago. 

JENKIN  JONES,  a  citizen  of  Pitts- 
burg for  sixty-four  years,  was  born  in 
Cardiganshire,  South  Wales,  in  1835. 
His  parents  brought  him  to  America 
when  he  was  four  years  old,  and  located 
at  Pittsburg,  where  Mr.  Jones  received  a 
limited  education.  He  went  to  work  at 
the  age  of  twelve  in  a  glass  factory,  and, 
in  1863,  started  in  the  business  for  him- 
self, under  the  name  of  Campbell,  Jones 
&  Co.  This  combination  continued  until 
i886,  when  Mr.  Jones  organized  another 
company  for  the  manufacture  of  glass, 
the  new  concern  being  known  as  Jones,  Caufif  &  Co.  (limited).  This 
firm  was  discontinued  in  1892,  and  Mr.  Jones  has  since  devoted 
his  time  to  the  public  service.  He  has  held  many  positions  of 
responsibility  and  trust  during  his  long  and  eventful  career.  He 
was  from  1868  to  1870  councilman  for  the  borough  of  East  Birm- 
ingham, Allegheny  county,  and  was  then  elected  to  the  office  of 
burgess  of  that  borough,  but  a  change  of  residence  necessitated 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  49 

his  resigning  this  position  before  his  term  expired.  His  next 
office  was  that  of  school  director  from  the  twenty-seventh  ward, 
Pittsburg,  where  he  served  three  years.  He  was  also  elected  a 
member  of  the  central  board  of  education,  where  he  served  for  a 
similar  period.  In  1873  he  was  elected  for  one  three-year  term  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  fire  commissioners  of  Pittsburg.  He 
has  held  his  present  position  as  wharfmaster  since  December, 
1901.  Mr.  Jones  has  long  been  a  prominent  republican,  and  has 
taken  an  important  part  in  party  affairs.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  State  convention  held  at  Harrisburg  in  1878,  and  also  to  the 
State  convention  in  1881  which  nominated  Silas  M.  Bailey  for 
State  treasurer.  In  1881  he  was  chairman  of  the  finance  committee 
of  the  republican  county  central  committee  of  Allegheny  county. 
In  religious  belief  Mr.  Jones  is  a  Congregationalist  and  a  member 
of  that  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Royal 
Arcanum. 

ROBERT  OSTERMAIER,  delinquent 
tax  collector  for  the  city  of  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Jan.  2,  1857,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Katherine  Oster- 
maier,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Robert  Ostermaier  attended  the 
public  schools  when  a  lad,  graduating 
later  from  the  Iron  City  commercial  col- 
lege, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  became  a 
clerk  in  the  Pittsburg  postoffice.  Here 
he  filled  every  position  except  post- 
master, and  was  assistant  postmaster  dur- 
ing President  Cleveland's  first  term,  ful- 
filling the  duties  of  that  responsible  post  most  admirably.  Upon 
retiring  from  the  postoffice,  he  became  clerk  in  the  office  of  Mayor 
McCollin,  later  filling  a  similar  position  for  three  years  under 
Mayor  H.  I.  Gourley.  He  then  became  assistant  superintendent 
of  highways  and  sewers,  resigned  this  position  three  months  later, 
and  was  elected  secretary  of  the  republican  city  committee,  an 
office  which  he  has  held  since  that  time  and  one  which  he  has  filled 
with  conspicuous  success.  In  1896  he  became  police  magistrate 
under  Mayor  H.  P.  Ford,  and  held  this  position  from  April,  1896, 
to  May  I,  1897.  Then,  on  May  17,  1897,  he  undertook  the  duties 
of  collecting  the  delinquent  city  taxes.  This  position  he  has  since 
held,  with  the  exception  of  two  months,  from  October  to  Decem- 
1-4 


50  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

ber,  1 90 1,  when  he  was  temporarily  thrown  out  of  office  by  the 
provisions  of  the  Ripper  bill.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order 
of  United  American  Mechanics,  the  Heptasophs,  Royal  Arcanum 
and  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Young 
Men's  tariff  club  and  the  John  Dalzell  republican  club  of  the  seven- 
teenth ward,  Mr.  Ostermaier  is  a  director  of  the  Metropolitan 
National  bank  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

TIMOTHY  O'LEARY,  special  agent 
of  the  Pittsburg  brewing  company,  was 
born  in  County  Cork,   Ireland,    Dec.    28, 

1848.  His  parents  came  to  America   in 

1849,  locating  in  Pittsburg,  and  there  Mr. 
O'Leary  was  reared  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Leaving 
school  when  fifteen  years  old,  he  went  to 
work  as  messenger  for  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  and  was  made  clerk  after  being 
messenger  only  two  months.  In  July, 
1864,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Allegheny 
Valley   railroad    as   transfer    clerk,     and 

acted  in  this  capacity  until  1869,  when  he  became  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  treasurer  of  the  Valley  railroad.  Two  years  later  he  w^as 
employed  in  the  auditor's  office,  and,  in  1874,  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  as  voucher  clerk.  After  a  year 
in  this  position,  he  resigned  and  went  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  for  four  years  employed  as  clerk  in  the  department  of  inter- 
nal affairs.  Returning  to  Pittsburg,  he  worked  in  the  city  assess- 
or's office  for  a  short  time,  and  later  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  window  glass,  under  the  firm  name  of  O'Leary  Bros.,  continuing 
in  this  business  until  1893.  Since  1893  he  has  been  employed  in 
his  present  position,  that  of  special  agent  for  the  Pittsburg  brew- 
ing company.  From  1886  to  1889  Mr.  O'Leary  held  the  position 
of  city  viewer  of  Pittsburg,  appointed  by  the  court.  Mr.  O'Leary 
has  had  a  varied  and  eventful  career,  and  has  won  his  present 
standing  in  the  community  by  merit  alone.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  has  attended  every  national  democratic  convention 
since  1872.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  democratic  con- 
vention in  St.  Louis,  in  1888,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  party  politics.  Mr.  O'Leary  belongs  to  no  secret  order.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  51 

DAVID  KENNEDY  McGUNNEGLE, 
chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of 
courts  of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in 
Robinson  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
on  a  farm,  July  3,  1849,  His  parents 
moved  later  to  Chartiers  township,  where 
Mr.  McGunnegle  was  reared,  and  re- 
ceived his  .early  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Later  he  attended  the  Western 
university,  of  Pittsburg.  In  1869  he 
entered  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  courts, 
and  remained  there  until  elected  clerk  of 
courts,  in  1885.  This  position  he  held  for 
three  terms,  nine  years  in  all,  receiving  each  time  the  largest 
majority  on  the  ticket.  His  term  of  office  expired  in  1894,  and  he 
was  then  appointed  chief  clerk,  and  has  held  this  position  continu- 
ously since  that  time.  Since  1899  he  has  also  been  burgess  of 
Estlin  borough.  Mr,  McGunnegle  belongs  to  no  secret  orders. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

PAUL  ST.  PETER,  secretary  of  the 
Window  glass  workers,  local  assembly 
No.  300,  Knights  of  Labor,  was  born  in 
Montreal,  Canada,  in  May,  1858.  He  is 
a  son  of  Albert  W.  St.  Peter,  who  was 
born  at  Three  Rivers,  Canada,  and  a 
grandson  of  Paul  St.  Peter,  a  native  of 
France.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came 
to  the  United  States  with  his  parents,  in 
infancy,  the  family  locating  at  Blossburg, 
Pa.,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that 
city.  He  began  his  apprenticeship  as  a 
glass  worker  in  Blossburg,  and,  in  1877, 
removed  to  Jeannette,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  a  glass 
factory  until  1896.  Mr.  St.  Peter  was  then  elected  secretary  of  the 
Window  glass  workers,  and  has  been  re-elected  to  the  position 
every  year  since.  He  has  proved  a  careful  and  competent  official, 
and  has  earned  the  popularity  which  he  has  attained.  Mr.  St. 
Peter  was  married,  in  1882,  at  Blossburg,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Nellie  E. 
Kelly,  and  has  five  children,  Helen  C,  Mary  A.,  Gertrude  U., 
Pauline  and  Alice  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Macca- 
bees, and  belongs  to  the  Catholic  church. 


fe^: 


52  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

JAMES    A.     ELPHINSTONE,     mer- 
^gjjjjj^^  chandise  broker,  of  Pittsburg,   was  born 

'..J^^^^^k  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  Feb    i,  1849,  and  lived 

,-^t  wk  in    Baltimore    until    1863,    attending    the 

W^l>   ^  public   schools.       Coming   then  to  Pitts- 

burg, he   continued   his   studies  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  left 
A'^W'     ^  school    and    engaged    in    the    wholesale 

^^//KK^BKI/BJI^I^        cracker  and  confectionery  business  for  a 
''"H^ '^^^^^Mg^         period    of    about    five    years.       He    then 
,^^^  entered  the  employ  of  Reymer  &  Bros., 

*  wholesale   and    retail    confectioners,   and 

remained  with  this  firm  until  1886,  when 
he  began  his  present  business  as  a  merchandise  broker,  at  which 
he  has  been  most  successful.  Mr.  Elphinstone  has  attained  the 
thirty-second  degree  in  Masonry,  and  is  a  Mystic  Shriner  and 
Knight  Templar.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  Knights  of 
Honor  and  Royal  Arcanum,  and  belongs  to  the  Americus  club. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

WILLIAM  L.  WALTON,  merchan- 
dise broker,  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg  in  1864,  and  there  reared  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  When 
seventeen  years  old,  he  left  school  and 
went  to  work  for  his  uncle,  James 
McClurg,  a  crockery  manufacturer,  re- 
maining in  his  employ  eight  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  started  in  at  his 
present  business,  and  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  it  continuously  ever  since. 
He  is  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and 
insurance  business  with  offices  in  the 
Smith  building,  Pittsburg,  under  the  firm  name  of  Braun,  Walton 
&  Euwer.  In  his  professional  life  he  has  been  as  honorable  in  his 
dealings  as  he  has  been  successful.  Says  a  friend,  in  speaking  of 
Mr.  Walton:  "He  is  a  successful  business  man  and  a  manly  fellow, 
whose  character  is  above  reproach."  Mr.  Walton  is  an  enthusi- 
astic member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Shriner,  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  American  Mechanics,  Heptasophs  and  Royal  Arca- 
num.     In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


53 


ADOLPH  EDLIS,  dealer  in  barbers' 
supplies,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Hun- 
gary, in  1859,  and  educated  in  his  native 
country.  He  came  to  America  in  1880, 
remained  in  iSIew  York  until  1888,  and 
then  moved  to  Pittsburg,  Mrhere  he  has 
since  resided.  In  Pittsburg  Mr.  Edlis 
has  been  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  barbers' 
supplies,  and  has  built  up  a  lucrative 
business  in  this  line.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  was  elected,  in  1897,  a 
member  of  the  common  council  from  the 
seventh  ward  to  fill  an  unexpired  term 
caused  by  the  election  of  Harvey  Lowry  to  the  position  of  sheriff. 
Mr.  Edlis  has  been  chairman  of  the  seventh  ward  republican  execu- 
tive committee  for  three  years.  Mr.  Edlis  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  K.  of  P.  He  also  belongs  to  three  benevo- 
lent societies— the  Home  of  Shelter,  the  Benevolent  society  and  the 
Hospital  society.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Orthodox  Hebrew 
church. 

©FREDERICK  W.  EDWARDS,  regis- 
ter of  wills  and  ex-officio  clerk  of  the 
Orphans'  court  of  Allegheny  county,  is  a 
native  of  South  Wales,  Great  Britain, 
where  he  was  born  Oct.  2,  1861.  He 
received  a  good  common-school  education 
in  his  youth,  and  then  was  employed  for 
some  time  as  engineer  at  the  Edgar 
Thompson  steel  works,  but  for  many  years 
he  has  held  various  ofificial  positions  in 
Allegheny  county.  He  has  successively 
been  tax  collector,  justice  of  the  peace, 
clerk  in  the  treasurer's  otifice,  deputy 
register,  and  register  of  Allegheny  county.  During  his  whole 
official  career,  he  has  conducted  his  office  in  a  capable  and  efficient 
manner.  While  many  of  the  duties  of  his  office  require  a  legal 
training,  and  although  not  a  lawyer,  still  he  has  fulfilled  these 
duties  with  entire  satisfaction,  and  his  record  as  an  obliging  and 
painstaking  officer  is  one  to  be  prond  of.  In  1883  he  was  married 
to  Alice  L.  Lightner,  daughter  of  Daniel  Lightner,  and  they  have 
the  following  children:  Mary  Winona  and  Vurse   Dalzell  Edwards. 


54  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Mr.  Edwards  is  a  stanch  republican,  and  in  a  campaign  he  may 
always  be  counted  on  to  do  his  full  share  of  hustling.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  Allegheny  county  for  the  last  twenty-five  years,  and, 
at  the  present  time,  resides  in  North  Braddock,  where  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 

J.  A.  A.  BROWN,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  building  inspection,  of  Pitts- 
burg, is  a  native  of  Pittsburg.  He  was 
born  in  1847,  and  attended  school  when 
a  boy,  but  left  school  at  the  age  of 
thirteen.  His  first  position  was  in  the 
shipyard,  on  the  Monongahela  river, 
near  Pittsburg,  where  he  worked  one 
day,  heating  rivets  to  be  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  gunboat ' '  Sandusky, ' '  and 
then  got  a  place  as  messenger  boy  in  a 
dry-goods  store  in  Pittsburg.  Here  he 
was  soon  promoted  to  the  position  of 
clerk,  later  entered  the  employ  of  William  B.  Hays  &  Co.,  whole- 
sale pork  dealers,  remaining  in  this  position  about  two  years. 
Captain  Brown  then  learned  the  carpenters'  trade  and  followed 
this  vocation  successfully  for  about  fifteen  years.  In  1870  he  went 
into  the  grocery  and  feed  business,  and  was  engaged  thus  until 
1888,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk  in  the- office  of  the  build- 
ing inspector.  The  following  year  he  was  appointed  assistant 
building  inspector,  and,  in  March,  1896,  when  the  bureau  of  build- 
ing inspection  was  formed,  under  the  new  law,  he  was  made  super- 
intendent of  the  bureau,  and  still  holds  that  position.  Captain 
Brown's  long  experience  in  the  practical  side  of  building  construc- 
tion has  made  him  a  valuable  man  in  his  present  position,  and  his 
career  has  been  a  most  creditable  one.  In  1869  Captain  Brown 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Washington  infantry,  State  militia, 
and  served  for  almost  twenty  years,  resigning  Nov.  15,  1888.  He 
was  given  the  rank  of  captain  five  years  before.  Although  he  has 
not  been  actively  connected  with  the  militia  since  1888,  yet  he 
takes  an  active  interest  in  military  affairs,  and  has  been  for  almost 
fifteen  years  drill-master  of  the  Pittsburg  police  force  Captain 
Brown  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Heptasophs.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  church. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  55 

®J.  CARSON  MERCER,  county  com- 
missioner of  Allegheny  county,  was  born 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  1848.  He  was 
reared  in  Pittsburg  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  leaving  at  the  age 
of  fifteen.  He  went  to  work  in  an  iron 
and  steel  mill,  continuing  at  this  employ- 
ment until  1879,  when  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Allegheny  county 
courthouse.  Since  that  time  he  has 
devoted  himself  to  the  public  service. 
He  held  his  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  courthouse  until  1894,  when  he  was 
appointed  county  commissioner  to  fill  an  unexpired  term.  In  1896 
he  was  elected  to  the  same  position  for  a  three-year  term,  and,  in 
1899,  his  faithful  services  won  him  a  re-election,  with  the  largest 
majority  ever  given  a  candidate  for  that  office  in  Allegheny  county. 
In  1902  he  was  again  elected,  being  the  only  successful  candidate 
on  the  republican  ticket.  In  1880  Mr.  Mercer  was  chosen  as  a 
member  of  the  select  council  of  Pittsburg,  from  the  twenty-fifth 
ward,  and  was  three  times  re-elected,  serving  eight  years  in  all. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 

JAMES  'A.  CLARK,  county  commis- 
sioner of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  at 
Barnesville,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  in  i860. 
In  1 86 1  his  parents  moved  to  Altoona, 
Pa.,  and  four  years  later  came  to  Pitts- 
burg, where  their  son  was  reared  and 
received  a  common-school  education. 
Mr.  Clark's  schooling  stopped  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  when  he  went  to  spend  a  year 
in  the  oil  fields  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
then  learned  the  hammer  trade  in  the 
steel  works  in  Pittsburg,  and  was 
engaged  in  this  work  for  about  six  years, 
after  which  he  was  for  about  the  same  length  of  time  employed  as 
utility  man  in  the  East  End  stockyards,  Pittsburg.  In  1888  Mr. 
Clark  was  appointed  railway  postal  clerk,  and  a  year  later  was 
chosen  by  Governor  Pattison  as  assistant  gas  inspector  of  Pittsburg. 


56 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


After  this  he  held  the  position  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Keystone  paint  and  color  company,  and  was  then  employed  by  the 
Iron  City  brewing  company  for  about  a  year  and  a  half  in  the 
capacity  of  general  superintendent.  In  1S96  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner  for  a  three-year  term,  was  re-elected  in  1899,  and 
again,  in  1902.  Mr.  Clark  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  young  men 
of  Allegheny  county,  and  the  future  promises  him  even  more  suc- 
cess than  has  fallen  to  his  lot  in  the  past.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  in 
Kansas  City,  July  5,  1900. 


JESSE    M.     McGEARY,    coroner    of 

§%  Allegheny  county,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 

Windfield    township,    Butler    Co.,    Ohio, 
««  and   spent   his  early  life  in  that  county. 

P  His   parents  were   Giffen   and   Susan   M. 

^  (Brown)  McGeary.     In  1870  he  moved  to 

,  Pittsburg,  where  he  remained  two  years, 

and,  in  1872,  located  in  the  sixth  ward  of 
Allegheny  city,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, and  has  long  been  considered  one 
of  its  prominent  and  influential  citizens. 
Mr.  McGeary  served  in  the  Allegheny 
common  council  for  twelve  years,  but,  on 
Dec.  I,  1898,  he  resigned  to  accept  the  office  of  county  coroner,  to 
which  he  had  been  elected  on  Nov.  8,  1898.  His  efficient  services 
as  coroner  won  him  re-election  in  1901.  As  evidence  of  Mr, 
McGeary's  interest  in  his  party's  welfare,  will  state  that  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  republican  executive  com- 
mittee for  twenty-two  years,  and  for  twenty  years  was  secretary  of 
the  committee  on  speakers  and  meetings.  Besides  his  interest  in 
political  affairs,  Mr.  McGeary  affiliates  with  several  prominent 
secret  orders,  viz.:  Davage  lodge.  No.  374,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Alle- 
gheny; Zion  lodge.  No.  1057,  I.  O.  O.  P.;  Standard  council. 
No.  62,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  ;  Manchester  castle,  No.  212,  K.  of  G.  E. ; 
Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  Allegheny  council, 
No.  445,  Royal  Arcanum;  Allegheny  council.  No.  6t^^  Loyal  addi- 
tional benefit  association,  and  Allegheny  assembly.  No.  103,  Royal 
Society  of  Good  Fellows. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  57 

WILLIAM  JOHN  STEEN,  jury  com- 
missioner of  Allegheny  county,  was  born 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Sept.  6,  1841,  and  is  of 
Irish  descent.  He  was  reared  in  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  afterwards  the  Iron  City 
commercial  college,  graduating  from  the 
latter  institution  in  i860.  In  August, 
1862,  Mr.  Steen  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war 
as  a  private  in  Company  G,  136th  Penn- 
sylvania volunteer  infantry,  and  served 
ten  months,  being  honorably  discharged 
at  the  end  of  that  time.  While  in  the 
service  he  fought  with  distinction  at  Antietam,  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville,  and  escaped  injury  and  capture.  After  the  war 
he  went  into  the  coal-producing  business  with  his  father  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  and  was  so  engaged  until  1898,  when  he  sold  out 
and  was  for  one  term  director  of  the  poor  of  Allegheny  county. 
He  has  also  served  one  term  as  burgess  of  Chartiers,  now  Carnegie. 
Mr.  Steen  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  in  May,  1902,  and 
has  given  good  service.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  Temp- 
lars, and  G.  A.  R.  post,  No.  153,  of  Carnegie.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican.  He  affiliates  in  religion  with  the  Presbyterian  church, 
in  which  he  holds  the  position  of  trustee. 

HAMILTON  S.  BURROUGHS,  M.  D., 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  general 
practitioner  of  medicine,  was  born  in 
Greene  county,  near  Waynesburg,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  Talmage  Burroughs,  a 
retired  farmer,  and  of  his  wife,  Jane 
Scott,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
'^^'  ^^  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Burroughs, 

^^^^^^^^^  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State, 
i^^^^P^^^^K  having  been  born  in  Brownsville,  Pa., 
^^^■^^^^^^  about  1800.     Young  Burroughs  attended 

^^^^^^^^  the   public  schools  of  Waynesburg,   Pa., 

and  Waynesburg  college.  He  matricu- 
lated at  the  Jefferson  medical  college,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  noted  school  in  1879,  with  the  degree  of  doctor 
of  medicine.  On  graduation,  Dr.  Burroughs  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession   at  Waynesburg,  where  he  met  with  much  success. 


68  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and,  in  1891,  he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  and  since  has  prospered 
as  a  general  practitioner  in  the  metropolis  of  western  Pennsylvania. 
He  is  medical  examiner  for  the  Equitable  and  the  Metropolitan 
life  insurance  companies,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny 
county,  the  Pennsylvania  State  and  the  American  medical  asso- 
ciations. He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Pittsburg  alumni  association  of  Jefferson  medical 
college,  the  republican  party,  and  a  member  and  deacon  of  the 
Shady  Avenue  Baptist  church.  Dr.  Burroughs  was  married,  in 
1882,  to  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Martha  (Millikin) 
Hopkins,  of  Waynesbtirg,  Pa.,  her  father  being  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  her  mother  a  descendant  of  the  early  settlers  of  Greene  county. 
They  have  one  child,  Samuel  Gross,  attending  the  Margaretta  pub- 
lic school  of  East  End,  Pittsburg. 

WILLIAM  CLAVER  McKINLEY, 
sheriff  of  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  March  29,  1859,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he 
was  employed  for  five  years  in  the  glass 
works  in  Pittsburg,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  began  his  long  and  successful 
career  in  the  public  service  as  clerk  in 
the  office  of  the  city  assessor.  He 
remained  there  three  years,  and  then 
spent  two  years  as  clerk  in  the  county 
treasurer's  office.  He  became  deputy 
sheriff  under  Sheriff  Alexander  E.  McCandless,  and  after  that 
served  under  three  successors  in  that  office — Sheriffs  McCleary, 
Richards  and  Lowry.  Mr.  McKinley  served,  in  all,  twelve  years 
as  deputy,  and,  in  1900,  was  elected  sheriff  for  a  three-year  term, 
a  position  for  which  his  twelve  years  of  experience  as  deputy  had 
well  fitted  him.  He  has  held  the  office  of  sheriff  for  four  years, 
being  one  year  longer  than  the  office  was  ever  held  by  any  other 
official  in  the  same  capacity.  Sheriff  McKinley  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  and  A.  M.  and  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  He  is  a 
regular  attendant  upon  the  services  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
He  was  married,  in  1891,  to  Dora,  daughter  of  Charles  F.  Hilger, 
and  has  one  son,  William  Hilger  McKinley. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


59 


HENRY  GRELLE,  alderman  from 
the  thirty-eighth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  in  1853, 
and  came  to  America  in  1869.  Mr. 
Grelle  attended  school  in  Wheeling,  W. 
Va.,  leaving  at  fifteen  years  of  age  to 
work  in  an  iron  mill.  He  came  to  Pitts- 
burg in  1874,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Mr.  Grelle  was  employed  as  an  iron 
worker  until  1892,  at  that  time  receiving 
the  appointment  of  assistant  superintend- 
ent of  the  Metropolitan  insurance  com- 
pany of  New  York.  In  1897  he  was 
elected  alderman  for  a  five-year  term,  and  rewarded  by  re-election, 
in  February,  1902.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Grelle  is 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Heptasophs  and  Independent 
Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

JAMES  SHERRAN,  alderman  from 
the  twenty-eighth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  that  city  in  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  Sherran,  who  was,  however,  com- 
monly known  as  Dan,  son  of  Daniel 
Sherran,  of  London,  England.  Daniel 
Sherran,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  came  to  America  in  the  early 
twenties,  when  eight  years  old,  and  died 
in  Pittsburg  in  1854.  Alderman  James 
Sherran  was  raised  in  Pittsburg,  and 
went  to  school  until  his  father's  death 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  work. 
From  that  time  until  1888  he  worked  in  various  iron  mills,  when 
he  was  elected  constable  for  the  twenty-eighth  ward.  Mr.  Sherran 
held  this  position  until  June  20,  1901,  when  he  was  appointed 
alderman  by  Governor  Stone.  He  was  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy, 
and  succeeded  in  so  pleasing  his  constituents  that  they  elected  him 
to  the  position  in  February,  1902,  for  a  five-year  term.  Mr. 
Sherran  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Jane  A.,  daughter  of  David 
Thomas.  They  have  no  children  living.  Mr.  Sherran  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Senior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 


60  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

FRANK  RIDGWAY,  the  local  fore- 
caster of  the  United  States  weather 
bureau  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  comes  of  a 
family  which,  for  many  years,  was  dis- 
tinguished on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
This  family,  alias  Peacock  (alluding  to 
which  the  old  bearing  of  arms  was  three 
peacocks,  heads  erased),  had  been  in 
Devon  from  a  very  early  period,  as  mani- 
fested by  the  collection  of  Sir  William 
Pole,  the  best  antiquary  of  that  county 
The  name  may  be  presumed  to  have  been 
local,  there  being  two  places  so  called  in 
the  shire,  one  near  Plymouth,  the  other  in  the  parish  of  Owlscomb, 
near  Honiton.  The  first  who  advanced  the  family  was  Stephen 
Ridgway,  who  was  one  of  the  stewards  of  the  city  of  Exeter  in  the 
sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.,  and  mayor  thereof  in  the 
seventh  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  {1466),  and  the  next  was 
John  Ridgway,  a  son  or  a  grandson  of  Stephen  Ridgway,  who  pur- 
chased from  the  Mohuns  of  Dunster  the  Manor  of  Tor,  in  Devon, 
and  was  elected  one  of  the  representatives  of  the  city  of  Exeter  in 
the  first  two  parliaments  called  by  Queen  Mary.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Wentford,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Thomas  Ridgway,  Esq.,  who  purchased,  in  1599,  from  Sir 
Edward  Seymour,  the  site  of  the  Abbey  of  Tor  in  Devon.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Southcote,  Esq.,  and  co-heir  of 
her  mother,  Grace,  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Barnhouse,  Esq., 
of  Marsh  in  Devon,  and  by  her  had  a  son  and  heir — I.  Sir  Thomas 
Ridgway,  who  was  employed  in  Ireland  in  a  military  capacity  to 
Elizabeth,  and  planted  the  first  Protestant  colony  in  Ireland.  He 
was  high  sherifif  of  Devon  in  1600,  and  received  the  knighthood 
at  the  accession  of  King  James  to  the  throne  of  England.  He  was 
elected  one  of  the  knights  of  the  shire  for  the  county  of  Devon  in 
the  first  parliament  called  by'the  king,  who  continued  to  employ 
him  in  some  of  the  highest  places  of  trust  and  command  in  Ire- 
land, and  had  him  sworn  in  the  privy  council.  He  was  advanced  to 
the  dignity  of  baron,  Nov.  23,  161 2,  created  a  peer  of  the  kingdom 
of  Ireland,  in  1616,  as  baron  of  Galen-Ridgway,  and  advanced,  in 
1652,  to  the  earldom  of  Londonderry.  He  married  Cicely,  sister 
and  co-heir  of  Henry  Mackwilliam  (the  lady  was  maid  of  honor  to 
Queen  Elizabeth),  and  had  issue:  Robert,  his  heir;  Edward, 
Mackwilliam,    Maria,  died   young,  and   Cassandra,  married   to    Sir 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  61 

Francis  Willoughby,  Knight.  His  lordship  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son,  Sir  Robert  Ridgway,  second  earl  of  Londonderry,  who 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Simon  Weston, 
Knight,  of  Lichfield,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  III.  Sir 
Weston  Ridgway,  third  earl  of  Londonderry,  who  married  Martha, 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Temple,  Bart.,  and  left  several 
daughters  and  two  sons,  Robert  and  Thomas.  The  eldest  son,  Sir 
Thomas  Ridgway,  fourth  earl  of  Londonderry,  married  Lucy, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Jopson,  Bart.,  and  had  two  daughters, 
his  co-heirs,  viz.  :  Lucy,  married  to  Arthur,  fourth  earl  of  Donegal, 
and  Frances,  married  to  Thomas  Pitt,  Esq.,  M.  P.  for  Wilton,  who 
was  created  earl  of  Londonderry.  His  lordship  died  March  7,  17 13, 
when  all  his  honors,  including  the  baronetcy,  became  extinct.  Tor 
Mohun,  the  old  Ridgway  estate  in  Devon,  was  sold  about  1768  by 
the  earl  of  Donegal  to  Sir  Robert  Polk,  Baronet.  The  site  of  the 
Abbey  of  Tor  was  purchased  from  the  first  earl  of  Londonderry  in 
1653  by  John  Stowell,  Esq.,  of  Indiano,  from  whom  Sir  George 
Gary,  Knight,  purchased  it  in  1662.  Arms — Sa.  A  pair  of  wings 
conjoined  and  elevated.     Arg. 

Richard  Ridgway  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  left  Waterford,  Berks 
Go.,  England,  and  sailed  for  America  in  the  ship  "Jacob  and 
Mary,""'  of  London.  They  arrived  in  the  Delaware  river  in  July, 
1699.  Their  eldest  son,  Thomas,  was  twelve  years  old  when  they 
arrived.  Richard  settled  with  his  family  in  Springfield  township, 
Burlington  Go.,  N.  J.,  where  he  died,  leaving  two  sons,  Thomas 
and  Richard.  Thomas  married  Anna  Paws,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Paws,  and  moved  to  Little  Egg  Harbor,  N.  J.,  where  he  died,  in 
1724,  leaving  eleven  children,  named  Jacob,  Job,  Timothy, 
Thomas,  Edward,  Richard,  John,  Robert,  Gatherine,  Elizabeth 
and  Anna.  Of  these  sons,  Thomas,  John  and  Robert  married  and 
spent  their  days  in  Egg  Harbor.  Jacob,  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  went  to  Springfield  township,  in  Burling- 
ton county,  on  a  farm  known  in  later  years  as  the  "Michael  Earl 
Farm."  Richard  (son  of  Thomas)  went  to  Long  Island,  where  his 
descendants  still  reside.  John,  born  in  1705,  was  quite  a  cele- 
brated Quaker  minister.  He  married  Phoebe  Ballinger,  and  left 
five  children,  named  John,  Phoebe,  Jacob,  Thomas  and  Anna. 
Of  these,  Jacob  became  the  greatest  millionaire  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  the  father  of  Madam  Rush,  wife  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min Rush,  of  that  city.  John  married  Elizabeth  Wright,  and 
died  in  1845,  leaving  eight  children,  named  David,  born  in  1777; 
Sarah,  born    in    1779;  Galeb,   in    1781;  John,   in    1784;  Jacob,    in 


62  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

1787 ;  David  W.,  in  1791 ;  Andrew  C,  in  1793,  and  Thomas,  in  1797. 
Richard  Ridgway,  brother  of  Thomas  and  son  of  the  first  Richard, 
married  Elizabeth  Drews,  and  settled  near  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where 
he  died,  leaving  several  children.  Joseph,  the  eldest,  born  in 
1 701,  and  wife,  Abigail,  lived  near  Burlington,  and  had  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  named  David  (born  in  1733),  Allyn,  Joseph, 
Henry,  Mary,  Sarah,  the  names  of  the  others  being  unknown. 
Mary  married  Solomon  Thomas,  of  Springfield,  N.  J.;  Sarah 
married  Joseph  Pancoast,  father  of  Dr.  Pancoast,  of  Philadel- 
phia. David  married  Jane  Burr,  and  moved  to  Trenton,  N.  J., 
and  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  named  David,  Richard, 
Burr,  Robert,  Abigail,  Rachael,  Sarah  and  Hannah.  Abigail  mar- 
ried John  Livzey,  of  Philadelphia;  Rachael,  John  Evans;  Sarah, 
John  Johnson,  and  Hannah,  Aaron  Middleton.  Richard,  born  in 
1773.  was  married  at  Wysox,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  1808,  to  Sarah 
Cowel.  This  comprises  all  branches  of  the  descendants  of  Richard 
Ridgway  that  I  am  able  to  discover  in  America.  Another  branch 
of  Ridgways  is  found  in  Massachusetts.  They  came  to  this  coun- 
try at  an  earlier  date,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following:  ist.  John 
Ridgway  and  wife,  Mary,  admitted  to  the  church  in  Charleston, 
Mass.,  in  1652.  Mrs.  Ridgway  died  Dec.  20,  1670.  2d.  John, 
wliose  wife's  name  was  Hannah,  died  in  Charleston,  Dec.  10;  1721. 
3d.  James  Ridgway,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  Ridgway,  born  in 
Charleston,  Oct.  13,  1698.  His  wife's  name  was  Mehitable. 
4th.  Joseph  Ridgway,  son  of  James  and  Mehitable,  was  born, 
April  6,  1735,  ^i^d  ^i^^  i^  1815.  He  married,  as  his  first  wife, 
Abigail  Bell,  and  as  his  second  wife,  Mary  Ridgway,  daughter  of 
James  Ridgway  and  his  wife,  Mary  Braizer,  of  another  line  of 
Ridgways.  Frank  Ridgway,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
on  a  farm  in  Gloucester  county,  N.  J.,  in  1859,  and  moved  to 
Baltimore  ten  years  later,  where  he  received  a  limited  education, 
mostly  in  private  schools.  He  entered  the  United  States  signal 
corps,  in  1879,  as  a  private,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  military 
telegraph  line  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  where  he  remained 
until  his  term  of  service  expired,  in  1884,  having  been  promoted  to 
sergeant  in  1880.  After  this  he  came  east,  re-enlisted  in  the  signal 
corps  in  1885,  and  remained  until  the  service  was  transferred  from 
the  department'of  war  tojthe  department  of  agriculture,  in  1891. 
He  was  stationed  ^in  Washington,  D.  C,  until  the  latter  part  of 
1885,  and  then  sent  as  observer  to  Cape  May  Point,  N.  J.  After 
this  he  was  transferredj|,to^Cape  Henlopen,  Delaware  breakwater, 
as  sergeant  in  the  signal]|corps,  having  charge  of  the  military  tele- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  63 

graph  line  between  Cape  Henlopen  and  Chincoteague  island,  and 
was  sent  thence  to  Sandy  Hook,  N.  J.,  and  from  there  to  Man- 
chester, N.  H.,  where  he  remained  until  September,  iS'Sy.  He 
was  then  ordered  to  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained  a 
short  time  and  was  transferred  to  Washington,  D.  C,  being  occu- 
pied there  until  May  31,  1888.  Mr.  Ridgway  was  then  transferred 
to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  June  9,  1S96,  and 
then  came  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  has  since  been  stationed,  and  has 
given  splendid  satisfaction.  Mr.  Ridgway  is  an  enthusiastic 
Mason,  having  attained  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Shriner. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg,   Pa. 

t  THOMAS  G.  McCLURE,  county 
treasurer  of  Allegheny  county,  was  born 
in  Pittsburg  in  1856,  and  there  reared 
and  educated.  Leaving  school  at  the  age 
of  fourteen,  he  entered  the  employ  of  a 
tin  plate  and  metal  firm,  and  continued 
with  this  concern  until  1891.  For  four 
years  before  this  time  he  had  been  a 
member  of  the  firm.  In  189 1  Mr. 
McClure  started  in  for  himself  in  the  tin 
plate  and  metal  business,  under  the  name 
of  McClure  &  Co.  This  concern  has  had 
a  most  prosperous  existence,  and  now 
does  an  extensive  and  profitable  business.  Besides  this  Mr. 
McClure  established,  in  1899,  a  tin  plate  mill  in  Washington,  Pa. 
Mr.  McClure  has  been  for  many  years  prominent  in  public  life. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Pittsburg  council  in  1883,  and 
served  six  years  in  the  common  council  and  four  in  the  select  coun- 
cil. During  this  period  he  was  one  of  the  most  influential  council- 
men.  He  served  on  the  finance  committee,  and  was  for  the  last 
three  years  of  his  service  chairman  of  the  sub-committee  on  appro- 
priations. During  his  last  year  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  the  Carnegie  library,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  build- 
ing and  grounds  for  the  library.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of 
Allegheny  county  in  1899.  He  is  at  present  treasurer  of  the  city 
and  county  republican  executive  committee.  Mr.  McClure  is  an 
enthusiastic  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  where  he  has 
attained  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar  and 
Shriner.     He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 


64  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

JOHN  A.  BLEICHNER,  alderman 
from  the  twenty-fifth  ward,  South  Side, 
Pittsburg-,  is  a  prominent  real  estate 
and  insurance  man.  He  was  born  in  the 
ward  which  he  now  represents,  in  1870, 
and  there  he  was  reared  and  given  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  common  schools. 
When  twelve  years  old,  he  left  school  and 
worked  for  two  years  in  a  glass  factory. 
After  this  he  went  to  Ligonier,  West- 
moreland county,  and  spent  four  years  on 
a  farm.  Returning  to  Pittsburg,  Mr. 
Bleichner  worked  a  year  for  Jones  & 
Laughlin,  at  the  same  time  attending-  night  school.  He  accepted 
a  clerkship  with  his  brother,  George  J.  Bleichner,  in  a  real  estate 
office,  and  was  so  employed  for  six  years.  He  was  elected  alder- 
man, in  1896,  his  ability  and  faithful  service  in  this  capacity  win- 
ning him  re-election,  in  February,  1901.  Mr.  Bleichner  belongs 
to  no  secret  order.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and 
the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

CHARLES  F.  McKENNA,  a  member 
of  the  Allegheny  county  bar  and  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Pittsburg,  and  veteran 
Union  soldier  in  all  the  great  battles  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  Antie- 
tam  to  Appomattox,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg, Oct.  I,  1845.  He  is  of  Irish 
ancestry,  his  grandparents  and  their  ten 
children — six  sons  and  four  daughters — 
coming  from  County  Tyrone  and  settling 
in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  in  the  year  1830. 
His  father,  James  McKenna,  died  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  ■v\'as  less  than  one  year  old.  His  mother  survived  her  hus- 
band's death  until  the  year  1884,  when  she  died  in  her  eighty- 
fourth  year.  A  family  of  six  children — all  of  whom  reached 
mature  years — survived  the  death  of  James  McKenna.  The  late 
Hon.  Bernard  McKenna,  for  twelve  years  judge  of  the  second 
(police)  district  court  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  served  as  mayor  of 
Pittsburg  for  the  term  of  three  years,  from  1893  to  1896,  and  who 
died,  June  20,  1903,  was  a  brother  of  Charles  F.  McKenna.     Mr. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  65 

McKenna,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  day  and  night  schools  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  appren- 
ticed in  his  fourteenth  year  to  learn  the  lithographers'  trade  and 
attained  great  success  as  an  engraver  and  artist.  In  his  six- 
teenth year  he  left  this  employment  in  response  to  President 
Lincoln's  call  of  July,  1862,  for  300,000  more  Union  soldiers  and 
enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in  Company  E,  155th  regiment  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  recruited  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  This  regi- 
ment was  assigned  to  duty  with  Humphrey's  division  and  became 
part  of  the  famous  5th  corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  within 
two  weeks  after  enlisting  in  Pittsburg,  the  division  reached  the 
battlefield  of  Antietam,  and  for  three  years  following,  until  the 
close  of  the  war  by  surrender  of  Confederate  armies  under 
General  Lee,  Private  McKenna  carried  a  musket,  participating  in 
the  great  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
the  Wilderness,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Five  Forks  and  Appo- 
mattox. Among  the  Pittsburgers  who  served  in  the  same  com- 
mand were  Cof.  E.  Jay  Allen,  the  late  Gen.  A.  L.  Pearson, 
Col.  Jno.  H.  Cain,  Col.  Jno.  Ewing,  Major  Geo.  M.  Laughlin, 
Harrv  M.  Curry,  Saml.  Kilgore,  Wm.  Shore,  John  F.  Hunter, 
Col.  S.  W.  Hill  and  Jno.  H.  Kerr.  After  the  war,  Mr.  McKenna 
returned  to  Pittsburg  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  with 
the  law  firm  of  Mitchell  &  Palmer.  In  1869  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  the  Allegheny  county  bar.  He  has  been  in  constant 
and  successful  general  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsburg  ever 
since.  He  possesses  an  enviable  reputation  in  western  Pennsyl- 
vania as  an  able  and  reliable  counsel  and  advocate.  In  the  many 
years  of  legal  practice  he  has  been  connected  with  many  celebrated 
cases  reported  in  the  United  States  and  State  supreme  court 
reports.  He  has  been  the  counsel  for  the  Catholic  diocese  of  Pitts- 
burg and  cemetery  and  charitable  organizations,  under  the  admin- 
istration of  three  bishops— the  late  Rt.  Rev.  M.  Domenec,  the  late 
Rt.  Rev.  John  Tuigg  and  of  Rt.  Rev.  R.  Phelan,  present  bishop— 
until  the  year  1892,  when  he  resigned  the  position  because  of  the 
increasing  demands  of  general  practice.  Mr.  McKenna  has  also 
been  the  general  solicitor  of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  humane 
society  since  its  organization,  over  thirty  years.  He  is  also 
counsel  for  Ladies  of  the  G.  A.  R.  home  at  Hawkins  Station. 
During  the  continuance  of  existence  of  the  City  National  and  City 
Savings  bank  of  Pittsburg  he  was  solicitor.  Mr.  McKenna  is  a 
charter  member  of  Post  No.  3,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the  Union  Veteran 
legion  encampment.  No.  i,  of  Pittsburg,  having  been  elected 
1-5 


66  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

colonel  of  the  latter  organization,  composed  of  veterans  of  the  Civil 
war  who  had  served  not  less  than  two  years  in  the  field.  At  all 
times  Mr.  McKenna,  on  memorial  day  celebrations  and  at  camp- 
fires  and  reunions,  has  been  active  and  has  responded  to  invita- 
tions as  a  speaker.  In  1872  Mr.  McKenna  married  Miss  Virginia 
White,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  N.  W.  White,  of  Allegheny  city. 
Although  not  blessed  with  children,  no  happier  or  more  cheerful 
couple  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKenna  could  be  found  anywhere. 
Mr.  McKenna  enjoys  remarkably  vigorous  health,  and  seems  to  be 
still  in  his  prime  for  intellectual  work.  No  member  of  the  legal 
profession  devotes  himself  closer  or  more  unremittingly  to  the 
duties  of  his  position  than  does  Mr.  McKenna.  In  politics  he  has 
acted  with  the  democratic  party  in  national  campaigns,  but  has 
frequently  exhibited  independent  qualities  in  bolting  unsatisfactory 
nominations  and  in  actively  supporting  reform  movements  in  local 
politics. 


HUGH  YOUNG,  national  bank  exami- 
ner at  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  Dec.  14,  1832.  He  came 
to  America  alone  in  1850,  and  located  in 
Wellsborough,  Pa.,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  In  1856  he  became 
special  correspondent  for  the  New  York 
j^^Hp^  '"^F.  Tribune  at  Lawrence,  Kan.  ;  remained  in 
jA  ^^jT  J  that   capacity  a   year,  and  then  returned 

'jjl^BpPHH^^,  to   Pennsylvania,   where   he   studied   law 

^^^^k      ^H|^  ^"^  was   admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never 

^^^k^^P^  practiced.      In  July,  1863,  he  enlisted  as 

a  private  in  Company  F,  35th  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteer  infantry,  and  two  days  later  was  elected  first  lieu- 
tenant. He  served  until  August,  1863,  acting  as  quartermaster. 
Returning  to  civil  life,  Mr.  Young  became  a  candidate  for  the  State 
legislature  in  1876  and  was  elected.  The  following  year  he  was 
appointed  national  bank  examiner,  and  acted  as  such  until  Febru- 
ary, 1888,  when  he  retired  from  office  and  became  president  of  the 
Wellsborough  National  bank.  He  remained  in  this  position  until 
1891,  when  he  was  appointed  national  bank  examiner  for  Pittsburg, 
in  which  capacity  he  has  been,  since  then,  successfully  engaged. 
Mr.  Young  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Cook 
post.  G.  A.  R.,  at  Wellsborough. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


67 


WILLIAM  J.  ZAHNISER,  contractor, 
Pittsburg,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Clinton 
county,  la.,  in  1857,  but  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  Allegheny  county.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  Allegheny  city 
in  1865,  and  a  year  later  moved  to  Law- 
renceville,  now  seventeenth  ward,  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  was  reared  and  educated. 
He  graduated  from  the  ward  school  in 
1873,  and  then  started  in  to  learn  the  car- 
penters' trade,  his  father,  J.  W.  Zahniser, 
being  at  that  time  a  large  contractor. 
In  1S83,  the  father  went  to  try  his  for- 
tunes in  the  west,  and  Mr.  Zahniser  took  up  the  contracting  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  since  been  successfully  engaged.  He  has 
long  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  community,  and,  in  1900,  the 
people  of  the  seventeenth  ward  elected  him  to  represent  them  in 
the  select  council.  Mr.  Zahniser  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M., 
Royal  Arcanum  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  belongs  to  the  Seventh 
United  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg. 


BENJAMIN  W.  STOUFFER,  alder- 
man from  the  thirty-third  ward  since 
i860,  has  been  a  resident  of  Pittsburg  for 
about  half  a  century.  Coming  to  Pitts- 
burg in  1854,  he  went  into  the  drug  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  spent  some  time,  and 
later  engaged  in  the  commission  busi- 
ness. He  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  Clinton  iron  and  steel  company,  in 
i860,  and  has  held  that  position  ever 
since.  In  i860  he  was  elected  member 
of  the  school  board,  and  has  filled  the 
position  most  creditably  since  that  time. 
He  has  been  for  the  past  twenty-one  years  a  member  of  the  central 
board  of  education.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  an  active 
republican.  Mr.  Stouffer  is  a  man  whose  kind  heart  and  generous 
disposition  have  won  him  the  respect  of  the  community  and  the 
friendship  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  associated.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  K.  of  P.,  Royal  Arcanum,  Heptasophs 
and  A.  O.  U.  W.     In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


JOHN  WOODS  NESBIT,  United 
States  pension  agent  at  Pittsburg,  is  a 
son  of  James  McConnell  Nesbit,  who  was 
born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  in  1810, 
and  died  in  1877,  and  a  grandson  of  John 
Nesbit,  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland. 
J.  W.  Nesbit  was  born  in  South  Fayette 
township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  May  12, 
1840;  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schoojs. 
On  Aug.  22,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  D,  149th  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  infantry,  and  served  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Generals  Burnside,  Hooker,  Meade 
and  Grant,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  Gettys- 
burg, Mine  Run,  the  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  North 
Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Weldon  railroad,  Hatcher's  Run, 
and  other  minor  actions.  He  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
corporal,  July  7,  1863,  and  was  made  sergeant,  Sept.  i,  1864.  He 
went  through  the  entire  term  of  service  without  a  scratch.  He 
was  struck  in  the  breast  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  by  a 
sharpshooter's  ball,  but  a  needle  case  in  his  breast  pocket,  together 
with  a  roll  of  shelter  tent,  protected  him  from  serious  injury. 
Sergeant  Nesbit  was  known  as  a  reliable  man,  and  was  compli- 
mented for  bravery  on  the  field  of  North  Anna.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  returned  home  with 
his  company.  On  his  return  from  the  army,  he  resumed  farming, 
and  later  became  active  in  military  alfairs,  politics  and  business. 
He  organized  an  independent  military  company,  and  was  elected 
captain,  June  i,  1868.  This  company  was  known  as  the  "Free 
Rangers,"  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  June  i,  1873.  In 
1875  he  organized  Company  C,  14th  regiment,  N.  G.  P.,  and  was 
elected  captain  on  August  14th  of  that  year.  On  July  9,  1893,  he 
was  elected  major,  and  assumed  command  of  the  second  battalion 
of  the  regiment.  On  May  12,  1898,  Major  Nesbit  enlisted  for  the 
Spanish-American  war,  but  resigned  soon  after  to  resume  his 
duties  as  United  States  pension  agent,  to  which  position  he  had 
been  previously  appointed.  Being  an  active  republican  and  inter- 
ested in  county  politics,  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  State 
assembly,  was  nominated  and  elected,  and  represented  the  sixth 
district,  Allegheny  county,  in  the  sessions  of  iSSr,  1883,  1889,  1891 
and  1893.      He  was  appointed  superintendent   of  the    State  arsenal 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  69 

at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  by  Governor  Hastings,  Feb.  i,  1895,  and  served 
until  Dec  16,  1897,  when  he  resigned.  On  June  i,  1896,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  sixth  assembly  district  republican  league, 
was  appointed  United  States  pension  agent  at  Pittsburg  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  Dec.  18,  1897,  and  was  reappointed  by  President 
Roosevelt,  Jan.  31,  1902.  Major  Nesbit  is  actively  engaged  in  . 
business,  and  takes  a  prominent  part  in  the  promotion  of  local 
enterprises.  He  owns  and  manages  a  stock  and  fruit  farm  at 
Beechmont,  Pa.;  is  owner  of  the  Oakdale  insurance  agency;  is 
president  of  the  Oakdale  armory  association;  secretary  of  the 
Oakdale  cemetery  company;  president  of  the  Melrose  cemetery 
company  at  Bridgeville,  Pa. ;  director  of  the  First  National  bank  of 
Oakdale;  director  of  the  Farmers'  mutual  insurance  company, 
of  Oakdale;  interested  in  the  Carnegie,  McDonald  &  Cannonsburg 
street  railway  company;  director  of  the  Chartiers  telephone  com- 
pany; member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Boys'  industrial 
home  at  Oakdale,  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Oakdale 
printing  and  publishing  company.  Major  Nesbit  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  at  Oakdale,  is  a  member  of  Union 
Veteran  legion.  No.  i,  Pittsburg,  and  of  Post  No.  153,  G.  A.  R., 
Carnegie.     He  resides  with  his  family  on  Hastings  avenue,  Oakdale. 

WILLIAM  THOMAS  LINDSEY, 
clerk  of  the  United  States  district  court 
for  the  western  district  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  West  Middle- 
town,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  some  fifty 
odd  years  ago.  When  a  boy  he  attended 
Vermillion  college  at  Hayesville,  Ohio. 
Leaving  college  in  1869,  he  read  law  with 
the  late  Judge  Alex.  W.  Archeson,  of 
Washington,  Pa.  He  also  taught  a  select 
school  in  his  native  town  one  session, 
and  later  was  principal  for  a  short  time 
in  the  public  schools  of  Pittsburg.  In 
187 1  he  resigned  his  position  as  principal,  and  became  chief  clerk 
of  the  said  court,  which  office  he  filled  for  twenty  years,  and  was 
then  appointed  to  his  present  position.  Since  189 1  he  has  been 
United  States  commissioner.  For  several  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  school  control  of  Allegheny  city.  Mr.  Lindsey  is 
president  of  the  Elizabeth  bridge  company,  and  a  director  in  the 
Mercantile  trust  company,   the  Central  accident  insurance  com- 


70  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

pany,  Jack's  Run  bridge  company  and  North  Side  bridge  company. 
He  was  an  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  former  Gov.  William  A. 
Stone,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  Colonel  Lindsey  is  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Capt.  Samuel  Lindsey,  an  ensign  of  the  3d  battalion, 
Pennsylvania  provisional  regiment,  commissioned  May  3,  1758, 
and  commanded  by  Col.  Hugh  Mercer.  He  is  also  descended  in  a 
straight  line  from  John  Pancoast,  a  Quaker,  who  came  to  America 
from  England  prior  to  1676,  and,  with  William  Penn  and  others, 
was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  jury  concessions,  March  3,  1676. 

CHARLES  F.  KIRSCHLER,  who 
represents  the  fifth  ward  in  the  select 
council  of  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  is  a  typi- 
cal German-American  citizen.  He  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Pa.,  in  1864,  his 
parents,  Christopher  and  Christina 
Kirschler,  being  well-known  residents  of 
that  county.  When  Charles  was  about 
eight  years  of  age,  the  family  removed 
to  Allegheny  city,  where  he  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  second  ward,  and, 
after  the  death  of  his  father,  which  oc- 
curred in  1876,  he  took  a  course  in  Duff's 
and  in  the  Iron  City  business  colleges.  His  first  employment  was 
in  the  Third  National  bank  of  Allegheny  city,  as  messenger.  He 
soon  rose  to  the  position  of  discount  clerk,  then  bookkeeper  of  the 
discount  department,  and  finally  to  that  of  general  bookkeeper, 
where  he  continued  to  Jan.  i,  1893.  At  that  time  he  bought  the 
fancy  grocery  business  of  James  Lockhart,  on  Federal  street,  but 
after  conducting  that  business  for  about  a  year,  he  sold  out  to 
accept  the  position  of  secretary  and  treasurer  to  the  D.  Lutz  & 
Son  brewing  company.  This  place  he  held  for  five  years,  and 
continued  as  treasurer  for  three  years  longer.  On  July  i,  1901,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  F.  H.  Tooher  for  the  purchase  of  the 
Newell  Hotel,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  which  they  still  operate. 
Throughout  his  career,  Mr.  Kirschler  has  been  somewhat  active  in 
politics.  He  is  a  member  of  both  the  county  and  city  republican 
committees,  being  the  treasurer  of  the  latter.  In  1901  he  was 
elected  to  the  select  council  for  the  term  ending  in  1905.  In  the 
council  he  is  the  chairman  of  the  finance  committee,  as  well  as  a 
member  of  several  other  important  committees.     In  1892  he  was 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  71 

married  to  Miss  Ida,  daughter  of  John  McClurg,  of  Allegheny  city, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Carl  F. ,  Jr.,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr. 
Kirschler  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 
In  his  business,  fraternal  and  political  relations  he  enjoys  the  full 
confidence  of  his  associates,  and  those  who  know  him  best  speak 
of  him  in  terms  of  high  praise. 

HENRY  EYNON,  alderman  from  the 
thirteenth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
South  Wales,  in  1852,  and  there  reared 
and  educated.  He  came  to  America  in 
1870,  locating  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  was  for  twenty  years 
engaged  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  and, 
in  1895,  was  elected  alderman  from  his 
ward.  His  services  during  the  first  term 
in  the  council  were  so  appreciated  by  the 
people  that,  in  February,  1900,  they 
elected  him  for  a  second  five-year  term. 
Mr.  Eynon  is  a  member  of  the  Hepta- 
sophs,  and  belongs  to  the  Congregational  church.  He  was  married, 
in  1873,  to  Miss  Sarah  Lewis,  daughter  of  David  Lewis,  and  is  the 
father  of  one  boy  and  five  girls. 

JAMES  DUNLAP  WALKER,  the 
eldest  son  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Dunlap)  Walker,  an  alderman  of  the 
twentieth  ward,  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  a  promi- 
nent citizen  and  Civil  war  veteran,  is  one 
of  the  best  known  and  most  highly- 
respected  old  soldiers  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  Pa. 
June  6,  1846,  and  attended  public  and 
private  schools  there,  afterwards  com- 
pleting his  education  at  the  Iron  City 
business  college,  returning  his  test  papers 
and  enlisting  for  the  war  on  the  same 
day.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  B, 
15th  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  about  two 
months,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  and  also  in  the 
pursuit  and  capture  of  the  daring  confederate  general,  John 
Morgan,    by    Shackelford's    cavalry.       He    then    enlisted    in    the 


72  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

famous  Knap's  Pennsylvania  battery  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war,  and  from  the  date  of  enlistment  participated  in  all  the  marches 
and  battles  of  that  celebrated  organization  until  mustered  out  at 
the  age  of  nineteen,  in  Pittsburg,  June  14,  1865.  In  an  hour  and 
a  half  of  fierce  fighting  at  VVauhatchie,  Tenn.,  with  four  guns  in 
action,  the  battery  lost  twenty-six  men  killed  and  wounded  out  of 
forty-six  officers  and  men  engaged,  and  of  forty-eight  battery 
horses  which  went  into  the  engagement,  all  but  two  were  disabled. 
At  the  battle  of  Pine  Mountain,  Ga. ,  this  battery  fired  the  shot 
which  killed  General  Polk,  known  as  the  "bishop-general"  of  the 
confederacy.  The  organization  was  with  General  Sherman  in  his 
famous  march  to_the  sea  and  through  the  Carolinas  and  is  spoken 
of  in  his  memoirs  as  the  "famous  battery."  Colonel  Walker  was 
taken  prisoner  near  Blackwater,  N.  C,  by  General  Hampton's  con- 
federate cavalry,  and  confined  in  the  confederate  prisons  at 
Raleigh,  N.  C,  and  at  Danville,  and  later  spent  some  time  in  the 
noted  Libby  prison  at  Richmond.  After  the  war  Colonel  Walker 
spent  two  years  in  the  west  working  at  his  trade  of  bricklaying, 
and  then,  returning  home,  engaged  in  the  business  of  general 
contracting,  in  partnership  with  his  father,  up  to  1879,  afterwards 
continuing  the  business  alone  until  1894.  In  1886  he  removed  to 
the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and,  in  1898,  was  appointed  an  alderman  by 
Governor  Stone  to  fill  a  vacancy,  being  elected  to  the  same  position 
at  the  next  general  election  for  a  term  of  five  years.  Colonel 
Walker  has  been  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  since  1867;  is  a  past 
commander  of  Post  No.  88,  department  of  Pennsylvania,  G.  A.  R. ; 
served  four  terms  as  president  of  the  Allegheny  county  association 
of  Union  ex-prisoners  of  war,  and  is  a  past  president  of  the  Alle- 
gheny G.  A.  R.  association.  He  was  for  three  terms  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Union  ex-prisoners  of  war,  and 
was  elected  national  commander  of  that  organization  in  1901,  and 
re-elected  in  1902  and  1903.  At  present  he  is  commander  of 
Knap's  battery  veteran  association.  He  served  in  the  Pennsylvania 
State  legislature  from  1876  to  1881,  and  as  an  officer  of  the 
National  guard  and  chairman  of  the  military  committee  of  the 
Pennsylvania  house  of  representatives  for  three  sessions,  was 
very  active  and  successful  in  securing  legislation  looking  to  the 
betterment  of  the  condition  of  the  old  soldiers  and  soldiers' 
orphans,  and  the  reorganization  of  the  Pennsylvania  national 
guard.  A  deserved  compliment  in  recognition  of  his  services  at 
that  time  was  his  appointment  by  Gov.  Henry  M.  Hoyt  to  the 
position  of  chief  of  artillery,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  in  which  posi- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  73 

tion  he  served  four  years.  He  is  now  superintendent  of  erection 
of  the  Andersonville  State  military  commission,  which  plans  to 
erect  a  monument  to  the  1,849  Pennsylvania  soldiers  who  died  in 
Andersonville  confederate  prison  and  are  buried  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Andersonville,  Ga.  Colonel  Walker  is  a  member  of 
the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Americus  club,  and  other  fraternal  societies.  He 
is  of  Scotch- Irish  extraction,  and  of  direct  descent  from  the  fight- 
ing preacher  of  the  "Walls  of  Derry. " 

F.  W.  MUELLER,  president  of  the 
Pittsburg  brewing  company,  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1847,  and  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  country.  Coming  to 
America  in  1873,  he  located,  first,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  later  at  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  twelve  years. 
He  came  to  Pittsburg  in  1887  and 
engaged  in  the  brewing  business,  in 
which  he  has  been  unusually  successful. 
Mr.  Mueller  was  made  president  of  the 
Pittsburg  brewing  company,  Feb.  22, 
1900,  as  a  compliment  to  his  ability  and 
industry,  and  has  filled  this  responsible  position  most  creditably. 

JOHN  P.  OBER,  treasurer  of  the  Pitts- 
burg brewing  company,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  Aug.  21,  1848.  He  was 
reared  in  Allegheny  city,  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  leaving  school 
when  fourteen  years  old.  He  worked  in 
the  brewery  of  his  father,  George  Ober, 
remaining  in  his  employ  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  then,  in  part- 
nership with  William  Eberhardt,  started 
a  brewery  in  Allegheny  city  in  1870. 
The  company  was  incorporated,  in  1883, 
as  the  Eberhardt  &  Ober  brewing  com- 
pany, and  continued  until  1900,  when  it  was  merged  into  the  Pitts- 
burg brewing  company,  of  which  Mr.  Ober  was  made  treasurer. 
While  a  resident  of  Allegheny  city,  Mr.  Ober  took  a  keen  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  city,  and  served  for  sixteen  years  in  the  select 
council,  representing  the  thirteenth  ward.     Mr.  Ober  is  a  director 


74  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

in  the  German  National  bank,  in  the  Safe  Deposit  bank  of  Alle- 
gheny and  in  the  Central  accident  insurance  company.  He  has  a 
beautiful  home  in  Schinley  park,  Pittsburg.  In  speaking  of  him, 
a  prominent  lawyer  friend  of  his  makes  this  statement:  "Mr.  Ober 
is  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  Pittsburg,  and  prior 
to  coming  to  this  city  filled  a  large  place  in  city  affairs  in  Allegheny 
city,  in  whose  highest  representative  body  he  served  with  distinc- 
tion for  many  years.  In  financial  circles,  both  there  and  in  Pitts- 
burg, he  is  held  in  high  esteem.  He  contributes  to  many  charitable 
purposes,  and  his  public  spirit  was  demonstrated  in  one  instance  by 
his  donation  of  a  beautiful  fountain  to  the  city  of  Allegheny.  No 
man  stands  higher  in  business  circles  than  Mr.  Ober."  Mr.  Ober 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  B.  P.  O.  E. 


^^^^ 


-«i<SS^**^fr'" 


WILLIAM    ALLEN    MEANS,   alder- 
man   from    the    twenty-first   ward,  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  in  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  in 
.^  ,^    ■  1863.     He  is  a  son  of  Allen  Means,  also 

'**    *^   .  a     native    of    Allegheny     county,     now 

retired.  His  parents  moving  to  Plum 
township,  Allegheny  county,  in  1869, 
William  A.  Means  lived  there  on  a  farm 
until  1874,  the  family  moving  at  that 
time  to  East  End,  Pittsburg.  There  he 
attended  the  public  schools,  completing 
his  education  in  the  high  school.  Leav- 
ing school  in  1880,  he  became  clerk  in  the 
office  of  A.  H.  Leslie,  at  that  time  alderman  from  the  seventeenth 
ward,  and  now  director  of  public  safety.  He  remained  in  Mr. 
Leslie's  office  for  thirteen  years,  and  was  engaged  for  several  years 
by  his  brother,  A.  J.  E.  Means,  then  alderman  from  the  twenty- 
first  ward.  In  1897  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  position  of 
alderman  on  the  republican  ticket,  was  elected,  and,  in  February, 
1902,  was  re-elected,  this  time  on  the  citizens'  ticket.  Mr.  Means 
is  a  prominent  Presbyterian,  and  has  sung  in  the  choir  of  his 
church  for  the  past  eighteen  years.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  East  End  gymnastic  club,  now  extinct,  and  was  president  of 
that  organization  for  one  year.  He  is  at  present  a  director  of  the 
Lincoln  Avenue  building  and  loan  association.  Mr,  Means  is  a 
member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  Royal 
Arcanum  and  Protected  Home  Circle. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  75 

©BENJAMIN  L.  H.  DABBS,  photog- 
rapher, was  born  in  Edgeworth,  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.,  in  187 1,  but  hasresided 
in  Pittsburg  since  1879.  When  a  boy, 
he  attended  school  in  Pittsburg,  and 
later  completed  his  education  at  the 
Pennsylvania  college  at  Gettysburg. 
Returning  to  Pittsburg,  he  was  employed 
for  about  five  years  by  the  French  spring 
company,  and  then  took  up  photography 
as  a  vocation,  his  father,  also  named 
B.  L.  H.  Dabbs,  being  a  photographer. 
He  was  engaged  with  his  father  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  which  occurred  in  September,  1899,  and  has 
since  that  time  conducted  the  business  most  successfully  for  him- 
self. Mr.  Dabbs  belongs  to  no  secret  orders.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

STEPHEN  P.  STONE,  United  States 
marshal  for  the  western  district  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  born  in  what  is  now  the 
borough  of  Bridgewater,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa., 
in  September,  1854.  He  attended  school 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen, 
studying  in  the  public  schools  and  at 
Beaver  academy.  In  1877  he  was 
appointed  deputy  prothonotary  for 
Beaver  county,  Pa.,  was  elected  to  the 
same  office  two  years  later,  and  re-elected 
in  1883.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  assist- 
ant cashier  of  Beaver  depository,  and 
served  as  such  until  1890,  when  his  ability  and  attention  to  duty 
won  him  promotion  to  the  position  of  cashier,  in  which  capacity  he 
is  still  engaged.  Mr.  Stone  was  appointed  to  his  present  office  by 
President  McKinley  in  April,  1901,  and  was  reappointed  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt,  Jan.  i,  1902.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Beaver 
Valley  traction  company,  of  which  he  has  been  treasurer  for  the 
past  ten  years.  Mr.  Stone  is  a  Master  Mason  and  Knight  Templar, 
and  a  member  of  the  I,  O.  O.  F.,  Jr.  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics  and  B.  P.  O.  E.  In  religious  belief  he  is  an  Episco- 
palian. 


76 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


JOHN  DOWNEY,  alderman  from  the 
fifth  ward,  Pittsburg,  has  been  prominent 
in  public  affairs  for  many  years,  and  is  a 
man  widely  and  favorably  known.  He 
was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  in 
1840,  and  lived  in  Ireland  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  America,  locating  in 
Pittsburg.  On  coming  to  this  city,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Oliver  &  Phillips, 
prominent  hardware  merchants;  re- 
mained with  them  a  year,  and  then  spent 
eighteen  months  in  Leetonia,  Ohio.  He 
then  returned  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Since  1879  he  has  conducted  a  bakery,  which  is 
doing  an  increasingly  extensive  business.  Mr.  Downey  has  served 
two  terms  on  the  school  board  and  two  terms  on  the  central  board  of 
education.  He  was  elected  alderman  from  the  fifth  ward,  in  1898, 
for  a  five-year  term.  Mr.  Downey  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


JOHN  H.  ARMSTRONG  is  an  enter- 
prising and  ambitious  business  man,  suc- 
cessful alike  as  a  public  officer  and  in  his 
business  dealings.  He  was  born  in  Dub- 
lin, Ireland,  Sept.  30,  r86i,  and,  in  1877, 
came  to  America,  locating  in  the  twelfth 
ward,  Pittsburg.  On  coming  to  Pitts- 
burg, he  became  bookkeeper  for  Frank 
Armstrong,  coal  dealer,  and  was  thus 
employed  until  1890.  He  was  elected,  in 
1896,  to  represent  the  twelfth  ward  in  the 
Pittsburg  common  council,  and  re-elected 
in  1898.  He  also  served  as  police  magis- 
trate by  appointment  under  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown.  Mr.  Arm- 
strong is  an  energetic  business  man,  and  does  a  thriving  business 
in  real  estate,  insurance,  collections,  etc.  Besides  this,  he  is  presi- 
dent of  the  North  Avenue  stair  company  and  the  Boon  &  Hill  wall 
paper  company.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a 
past  commander  of  Ascalon  commandery,  No.  59,  Knights  Tem- 
plars, and  a  Shriner,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  He 
affiliates  in  religion  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and 
resides  at  No.  522  Winebiddle  Ave. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  77 

FRANCIS  X.  BARR,  clerk  of  courts 
of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg, Aug.  22,  1864.  He  is  the  youngest 
son  of  the  late  Hon.  James  P.  Barr, 
founder  of  the  Pittsburg  Post,  the  leading 
democratic  newspaper  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Barr  received  his  early  education  in 
private  schools  in  Pittsburg,  and  later 
attended  Fordham  college,  New  York. 
He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Willis  F. 
McCook,  Esq.,  practiced  his  profession 
for  six  years,  and  then  retired  from  active 
practice  to  associate  himself  with  the 
business  management  of  the  Pittsburg  Post.  Mr.  Barr  comes  from 
an  old  democratic  family,  whose  members  have  been  influential  in 
democratic  politics  in  Pennsylvania  for  the  past  fifty  years.  He 
was  elected  to  his  present  position  on  the  citizens'  and  democratic 
ticket,  Mr.  Barr  is  a  young  man  who  has  established  himself 
firmly  in  the  business  world,  a  man  of  good  habits  and  spotless 
integrity. 

©EDWARD  C.  VIERHELLER,  alder- 
man from  the  thirty- sixth  ward,  Pitts- 
burg, is  a  native  of  that  city.  He  was 
born  in  1866,  and  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  reached  the  age  of  six- 
teen, when  he  began  keeping  books  for 
his  father,  John  P.  Vierheller,  a  dry- 
goods  merchant.  He  remained  in  the 
employ  of  his  father  ten  years,  bought 
out  the  store,  but  sold  it  shortly  after- 
wards to  take  up  the  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  is  still  successfully 
engaged.  In  August,  1897,  he  was 
appointed  alderman  from  the  thirty-sixth  ward  by  Governor  Stone 
to  fill  a  vacancy,  was  elected  to  the  position  in  1898  for  a  five-year 
term,  and  again  in  1903  for  another  five  years.  Alderman 
Vierheller  has  long  been  prominent  in  republican  politics.  He  was 
formerly  a  member  of  the  republican  county  committee,  and  is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  republican  city  committee.  He  is  sec- 
retary of  the  German  building  and  loan  association. 


78 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


@  ALBERT  YORK  SMITH,  attorney 
and  register  in  bankruptcy,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  what  is  now  the  thirty-second 
ward,  Pittsburg,  in  1854.  His  father, 
C.  B.  M.  Smith,  was  a  prominent 
attorney  in  his  time,  and,  in  1845-6,  was 
city  solicitor  of  Pittsburg.  Albert  York 
Smith  received  his  primary  education  in 
his  native  city,  mostly  in  private  schools, 
and  then  attended  Yale  university, 
graduating  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1875.  After  graduation  he 
studied  law  with  his  father,  and  after- 
wards with  the  late  Samuel  Harper,  who  was  register  in  bank- 
ruptcy. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880,  and,  in  1889,  was 
appointed  to  the  office  which  he  has  filled  most  creditably  since 
that  time,  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  frater- 
nity. He  is  vice-president  of  the  Yale  alumni  of  western  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  belongs  to  the  University  club.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Heptasophs  and  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Presbyterian  church.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  party 
affairs. 


DAVID  FOULKE  COLLINGWOOD, 
treasurer  of  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  the  "old  sixth,"  now  the  seventh, 
ward,  Pittsburg,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there.  Leav- 
ing school  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  went 
into  the  wholesale  and  retail  drug  house 
of  Joseph  Fleming,  remaining  a  year, 
after  which  he  worked  a  year  at  the  same 
business  for  Harris  «fc  Ewing.  He  spent 
a  short  time  in  laboratory  work,  but  being 
unable  to  stand  this  occupation,  he  soon 
gave  it  up  and  became  weigh-master  in 
the  converting  mill,  and  later  operated  "the  screws"  on  the 
blooming  mill  rolls  of  the  Pittsburg  Bessemer  steel  works  (now 
Carnegie  Homestead  mills).  After  this  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Thos.  J.  Watson,  oil  broker,  as  bookkeeper  and  confidential  clerk, 
holding  this  position  until  about  1884,  when  he  went  into  the 
insurance  business,  in  which  he  has  since  been  successfully  engaged. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  79 

Mr.  Collin gwood  resides  in  North  Braddock,  and  served  as  school 
director  of  his  borough  for  ten  months  in  1896.  He  is  an  enthusi- 
astic member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Shriner.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Pittsburg  and  the  Monongahela  clubs.  In  religious  belief  he 
is  a  Presbyterian. 

MILLARD    F.    LESLIE,    funeral   di- 
^MR^^^  rector  in  Pittsburg,  and  treasurer  of  the 

■^.-^^■H^  p^^jjgj.^1    (directors'    association    of    Alle- 

L.  ^H  gheny    county,  was    born    on    a    farm   in 

™  ^^    ^^  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  Sept.  5,  1850. 

When  ten  years  old,  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Chartiers,  now  Edgecliff,  a 
village  in  Westmoreland  county,  where 
the  father  kept  a  general  store.  Here 
Mr.  Leslie  attended  the  public  school 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen,  when 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Freeport, 
Armstrong  Co  ,  Pa.,  and  spent  two  years 
at  the  Freeport  academy.  His  father's  death  then  put  an  end 
to  his  schooling,  and  the  boy  went  to  work  as  brakeman  for 
the  Allegheny  Valley  railroad,  now  the  river  division  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania system.  Mr.  Leslie  continued  in  the  employ  of  this  rail- 
road until  1882,  being  promoted  first  to  freight  conductor, 
afterwards  to  passenger  conductor.  He  was  employed  in  the  latter 
position  for  the  last  eight  years  of  his  service.  Coming  to  Pitts- 
burg, in  1882,  he  opened  an  undertaking  establishment,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  A.  H.  Leslie,  under  the  firm  name  of  M.  F. 
Leslie  &  Bro.  This  firm  continued  for  thirteen  years,  until  1895, 
when  A.  H.  Leslie  retired,  and  the  livery  end  of  the  business  was 
sold.  Mr.  Leslie  has  since  managed  the  undertaking  branch  of 
the  business.  He  has  a  handsome  new  chapel  at  No.  191  Forty- 
third  St.  The  new  building  is  a  credit  to  Lawrenceville,  and  shows 
the  progressive  spirit  of  its  owner.  This  is  the  first  of  the  kind 
that  has  ever  been  erected  in  Lawrenceville,  and  is  indeed  a  beau- 
tiful structure.  It  stands  on  a  plot  of  ground  twenty-one  by  sixty- 
five  feet,  and  is  two  stories  high,  facing  directly  on  Forty-third 
street  and  Eden  alley.  The  first  floor  consists  of  an  office,  assist- 
ants' room,  bath,  packing  room  and  reception  room,  all  of  which  are 
beautifully  finished  in  mahogany  and  onyx  wainscoting,  tile  floor 
with   a  handsome   marble   mantel.       The    office    fixtures    are    also 


80  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

mahogany.  In  the  basement  will  be  found  a  laying-out  and  trim- 
ming room  done  up  with  cemented  floors  and  walls.  The  second 
story  is  where  the  new  chapel  is  located,  and  in  the  front  of  the 
room  three  beautiful  art  windows  cast  a  lovely  glow  of  light  all 
over  the  apartment,  giving  it  a  handsome  effect.  On  the  second 
floor  sis  found  a  reception  room,  toilet  room,  bath,  etc.  The  entire 
building  is  lighted  with  electric  lights,  with  telephone  connection 
at  his  chapel  and  also  at  his  residence,  No.  173  Forty-third  St. 
Mr.  Leslie  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  Macca- 
bees, Royal  Arcanum  and  several  other  societies.  He  affiliates 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

S  EDWARD  J.  FRAUENHEIM,  vice- 
president  of  the  Pittsburg  brewing  com- 
pany, was  born  in  Pittsburg,  on  Feb.  13, 
1865.  His  father,  Edward  Frauenheim, 
was  formerly,  for  many  years,  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  business  affairs  in  Pittsburg. 
He  was  president  of  the  Iron  City  brew- 
ing company,  and  an  officer  and  director 
in  a  number  of  other  companies,  among 
them  the  German  National  bank  and  the 
Epping-Carpenter  company.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  St. 
Vincent's  college,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  with  honor.  He  then  entered  his  father's  office, 
where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  the  latter.  Upon  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Pittsburg  brewing  company,  he  was  elected  vice- 
president.  Beginning  his  business  career  equipped  with  a  good 
education,  a  splendid  physique,  and  an  abundance  of  energy  and 
perseverance,  Mr.  Frauenheim  has  by  close  application  to  business, 
and  the  practice  of  fair  dealing,  earned  for  himself  a  most  enviable 
reputation  in  the  business  world  as  a  man  of  business  ability  and 
strict  probity.  He  is  interested  in  a  financial  way  in  various  large 
institutions  in  Pittsburg,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  several  manu- 
facturing enterprises.  Mr.  Frauenheim  is  president  of  the  Iron 
City  sanitary  manufacturing  company  and  of  the  Zelienople 
extension  company;  he  is  vice-president  of  the  Duquesne  fire- 
proofing  company,  and  director  in  the  German  National  bank  and 
the  East  End  savings  and  trust  company.  He  is  likewise  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  directors  of  Mercy  hospital.  In  June,  1903,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  city  treasurer  by  Mayor  W.  B.  Hayes. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


81 


Mr.  Frauenheim  is  a  democrat,  and  while  not  actively  participating 
in  politics,  he  was  honored  by  his  party  with  election  to  the 
national  convention  in  Chicago,  in  1896.  He  is  married,  and  with 
a  charming  wife  and  seven  children  resides  in  a  beautiful  home  on 
Rebecca  street,  in  the  East  End,  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Frauenheim  is  a 
member  of  the  Duquesne  club,  of  the  Monongahela  club  and  the 
Columbus  club. 


THOMAS  B.  MORELAND,  funeral 
director.  East  End,  Pittsburg,  was  born 
in  the  twelfth  ward,  Pittsburg,  in  1870, 
but  has  been  almost  all  his  life  a  resident 
of  the  East  End.  His  father,  Thomas  B. 
Moreland,  Sr.,  was  for  many  years 
engaged  in  the  livery  and  undertaking 
business  in  the  East  End.  He  was  born 
in  Dromore,  County  Down,  Ireland,  in 
1828,  and  came  to  Pittsburg  when  twenty- 
two  years  old.  He  went  into  the  livery 
and  undertaking  business  in  1858,  with 
THOMAS  B.  MORELAND,  SR.  David  L.  Mitchell,  the  firm  being  known 
as  Moreland  &  Mitchell.  A  branch  of  the  business  was  established 
in  the  East  End,  in  1870,  of  which  Mr.  Moreland  took  charge,  but, 
in  1874,  he  dissolved  partnership  with  Mr.  Mitchell  and  conducted 
the  business  in  the  East  End  alone.  Mr.  Moreland  was  probably 
the  most  widely  known  business  man  in  the  East  End,  a  man  who 
enjoyed  a  remarkably  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  was 
admired  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  Liberty  National  bank,  of  the  Dime  savings  and  loan  asso- 
ciation, and  was  prominently  identified  with  every  movement  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  East  End.  Thomas  B.  Moreland,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in  the  East  End,  and  graduated 
from  the  public  schools  in  1884,  and  from  Newell  Institute  in  1888. 
He  entered  the  employ  of  bis  father,  and,  on  the  latter's  death, 
April  15,  1902,  succeeded  him  in  the  livery  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness. Upon  the  death  of  President  William  McKinley,  Mr. 
Moreland  had  the  honor  of  being  a  prominent  assistant  at  his 
funeral  at  Canton,  Ohio.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Liberty  National 
bank  and  the  Dime  building  and  loan  association.  Mr.  Moreland 
is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar  and  Shriner, 
and  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  E.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican. 
1-6 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

ALEXANDER  BLACK,  alderman 
from  the  thirty-first  ward,  Pittsburg,  is  a 
Scotchman  by  birth,  and  has  resided  in 
Pittsburg  for  over  thirty  years.  He  was 
born  in  Glasgow,  in  1847,  and  reared  and 
educated  in  Scotland.  In  1865  he  went 
to  Newport,  Monmouthshire,  England; 
resided  there  several  years,  and,  in  1871, 
was  married  to  Miss  Alary  Clapp,  daugh- 
ter of  John  W.  Clapp.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Black  have  five  children,  two  boys  and 
three  girls.  In  1872  Mr.  Black  came  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
journeyman  tailor  until  1883,  at  which  time  he  went  into  the  real 
estate  and  insurance  business,  in  which  he  has  since  that  time  been 
employed.  In  1901  he  became  a  candidate  for  alderman  of  the 
thirty-first  ward,  and  was  elected  for  a  five-year  term.  Mr.  Black 
is  prominent  in  business  circles,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Home 
building  and  loan  association  of  the  thirty-first  ward.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights 
of  the  Mystic  Chain,  and  belongs  to  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.      He  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

JOHN  BRADLEY,  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  prothonotary  of  Allegheny  county, 
was  born  in  Lanarkshire,  fourteen  miles 
from  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1841.  He 
came  to  Allegheny  county  with  his 
widowed  mother  in  1852,  and  worked 
in  the  coal  pits,  as  he  had  done  in  Scot- 
land since  his  eighth  year.  He  con- 
tinued at  this  work  in  America  until  1873, 
except  during  the  Civil  war.  In  July, 
1862,  he  enlisted  to  fight  for  his  adopted 
country,  as  a  private  in  Company  C,  123d 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infan- 
try, and  served  until  disabled  by  a  wound  in  the  left  arm,  received 
at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862.  Coming  to  Pittsburg  in  1873, 
Mr.  Bradley  was  engaged  for  a  short  time  as  a  clerk  for  his  brother- 
in-law,  and,  in  December  of  that  year,  became  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  prothonotary,  in  which  office  he  has  been  a  trusted  official 
for  almost  thirty  years.     In  1885  he  was  elected  to  the  office,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  83 

was  twice  re-elected,  after  which  he  became  chief  clerk  and  served 
as  such  until  Jan.  20,  1903.  On  Jan.  10,  1903,  he  was  appointed 
oil  inspector  for  Allegheny  county  by  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
No.  I.  Mr.  Bradley  is  a  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Royal  Arcanum  and  Post  No.  151,  G.  A.  R. 

THOMAS  A.  ROWLEY,  deceased, 
was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  1809,  reared  and 
educated  there.  He  held  the  position  of 
clerk  of  courts  of  Allegheny  county  prior 
to  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  so  em- 
ployed when  the  war  broke  out.  Mr. 
Rowley  went  into  the  war  as  second  lieu- 
tenant and  adjutant  in  the  2d  Pennsyl- 
vania infantry;  he  was  afterwards 
promoted  to  captain,  and  assigned  to 
the  regiment  of  Col.  George  M.  Hughes, 
Maryland  and  District  of  Columbia 
troops,  serving  in  that  capacity  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Returning  to  Pittsburg,  he  became  street  com- 
missioner, and  later  clerk  of  courts.  In  1856  Mr.  Rowley  became 
captain  of  the  Washington  infantry,  a  militia  company.  The 
company  was,  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  raised  to  a  battal- 
ion, and  later  to  a  regiment,  Mr.  Rowley  becoming  first  major 
and  then  colonel.  After  its  first  three  months'  service,  the  regi- 
ment enlisted,  its  name  being  changed  at  that  time  from  the  13th 
to  the  io2d  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  Mr. 
Rowley  served  as  colonel  of  his  regiment  until  Dec.  29,  1862,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  brigadier-general,  and  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  ist  brigade,  3d  division,  ist  army  corps. 
At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  after  the  death  of  Gen.  J.  F. 
Reynolds,  General  Rowley  commanded  the  division,  having  charge 
throughout  the  battle,  after  the  first  day's  fight.  The  gallant 
general  was  himself  wounded  on  that  bloody  field,  and,  being 
incapacitated  for  field  service,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
department  of  Maine,  with  headquarters  at  Portland,  serving  until 
April,  1864.  He  was  then  assigned  to  the  department  of  western 
Pennsylvania,  with  headquarters  at  Pittsburg,  holding  this  position 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  November,  1864,  he  was  brevetted 
major-general.  After  the  war,  General  Rowley  was  appointed 
deputy  United  States  marshal  for  western  Pennsylvania  by  Presi- 
dent Johnson,  and  in   Grant's  first  administration  he   served  one 


84  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

term  as  United  States  marshal  for  the  same  district.  After  this 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  pension  claims,  and  was  so  engaged  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  June,  1894.  General 
Rowley  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  Covenanter,  and  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  a  son  of  George  Rowley,  a 
veteran  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  a  grandson  of  William  Rowley, 
who  served  in  both  the  Revolution  and  the  War  of  18 12.  General 
Rowley's  son,  Henry  T.  Rowley,  clerk  to  the  county  commissioner 
of  Allegheny  county,  is  also  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  making  the 
fourth  generation  of  soldiers  in  the  Rowley  family.  Henry  T. 
Rowley  was  born  in  Pitt  township,  now  the  eleventh  ward,  Pitts- 
burg, in  1847.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  Civil  war,  and  at 
its  close  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  where,  for  seven  years,  he  was 
employed  in  the  engineering  corps  of  the  P.  &  C,  now  the  B.  &  O., 
railroad  company.  He  worked  until  1883  in  the  book  and  stationery 
store  of  J.  R.  Welden  &  Co.  He  then  entered  the  office  of  the  county 
commissioners,  in  which  he  has  been  a  trusted  official  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  also  for  some  years  borough  clerk  of  Wilkinsburg. 
Mr.  Rowley  is  a  member  of  the  F,  and  A.  M.,  being  a  Knight 
Templar  in  that  fraternity. 

URIAH  BELLINGHAM,  vice-presi- 
dent of  District  No.  5,  United  Mine  Work- 
ers of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  Stafford- 
shire, England,  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  Banksville,  Pa.,  since  1880.  He  was 
born  Oct.  17,  1857,  and,  in  i860,  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Lancashire,  going  two 
years  later  to  Leeds,  Yorkshire.  Mr. 
Bellingham  began  working  in  the  York- 
shire mines  when  only  nine  years  old, 
and  continued  to  do  so  until  he  reached 
his  majority.  Coming  then  to  America, 
he  was  employed  in  the  coal  mines  at 
Banksville  until  1900,  when  he  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
United  Mine  Workers  of  Pennsylvania.  In  this  capacity  his  ser- 
vices were  rewarded  by  re-election  in  1901,  and  again  in  1902. 
Prior  to  this,  from  1896  to  1901,  he  was  a  member  of  the  district 
executive  board  of  the  same  association.  Mr.  Bellingham  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Sons  of  St.  George,  and 
belongs  to  the  Established  Church  of  England.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


85 


CHARLES  J.  PEDDER,  real  estate 
broker,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in 
1869,  in  the  thirty-fifth  ward,  and  there 
reared  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  graduating  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen. After  taking  a  business  course  in 
DufE's  business  college,  he  went  to  work 
with  his  father,  who  was  at  that  time 
managing  the  Wayne  iron  and  steel  works 
(Brown  &  Co.).  Mr.  Pedder  served  as 
chemist  and  superintendent  of  the  steel 
department  of  these  works  for  a  period  of 
""^  seven  years,  and  then  went  into  the  real 

estate  business,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  In- politics 
Mr.  Pedder  is  a  republican,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  elected  to  the  select  council  of  Pittsburg 
in  1895,  and  also  served  a  term  in  the  State  legislature;  was  presi- 
dent of  his  local  school  board  for  a  number  of  years,  and,  in  1900, 
was  honored  by  being  requested  to  represent  his  district  on  the 
central  board  of  education,  which  office  he  is  still  holding.  Mr. 
Pedder  belongs  to  the  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  and  the  Elk  fraternities. 


CHARLES  C.  McGOVERN,  alderman 
from  the  thirty-fourth  ward,  East  End, 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  the  sixth  ward, 
Pittsburg,  March  6,  1874.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  city  and  attended  school 
there,  graduating  in  1889  from  the  Col- 
lege of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Mr.  McGovern's 
first  business  venture  was  an  express  line, 
which  was  conducted  for  five  years  under 
the  name  of  McGovern  &  Co.  Selling 
out  his  business,  he  became  special 
policeman  on  the  Pittsburg  force,  and 
after  eighteen  months'  service  was  made 
patrolman.  He  was  employed  in  this  capacity  until  1898,  when 
he  raised  a  company  for  the  Spanish- American  war.  The  company 
was  not  needed,  however,  so  Mr.  McGovern  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  Company  A,  14th  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  served 
fourteen  months.  In  February,  1899,  he  was  mustered  out  a  first 
sergeant.     Since  the  war  he  has  continued  to  be  interested  in  mili- 


86  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

tary  matters.  He  is  captain  on  the  staff  of  Col.  W.  E.  Thompson, 
of  the  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard,  and  is  also 
adjutant  of  that  regiment.  After  the  war,  Mr.  McGovern  returned 
to  his  place  on  the  police  force,  and,  a  month  later,  was  placed  on 
the  detective  force,  where  he  served  from  April,  1899,  to  Novem- 
ber, 1902.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  republican,  and  was  elected 
alderman  from  his  ward  in  February,  1900.  He  did  not  open  an 
office,  however,  until  November,  1902.  In  religious  belief  Mr. 
McGovern  is  a  Catholic. 


.A 


JAMES  M.  FULLERTON,  one  of 
Pittsburg's  leading  undertakers,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Funeral  directors'  associa- 
tion of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  in  1850,  son  of  John  and  Unity 

#(Galaher)  Fullerton.  John  Fullerton, 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Wilson) 
Fullerton,  was  born  at  Omagh,  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  Sept.  7,  1810,  and  died 
in  Pittsburg,  Dec.  20,  1901.  He  came  to 
Pittsburg  with  his  mother  and  seven 
brothers  and  sisters,  in  1823,  and  resided 
in  that  city  for  over  three-fourths  of  a 
century.  Being  bound,  when  a  boy,  an  apprentice  to  Samuel  Boyce 
in  the  tobacco  business,  he  learned  all  the  branches  of  the  trade, 
and  was  for  fifty-eight  years  a  successful  tobacco  dealer,  retiring, 
in  March,  1895,  ^t  the  age  of  eighty-five.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  in  the  Second  National  bank  and  in  the  Pitts- 
burg insurance  company,  of  which  he  was  director  and  in  the 
organization  of  which  he  took  an  active  part;  was  an  active  repub- 
lican, a  prominent  church  worker,  and  at  all  times  an  influential 
and  respected  citizen.  He  married  Unity  Galaher,  May  21,  1839, 
and  had  five  children,  viz. :  John  T.,  Susan  A.,  William  W.,  Samuel 
R.  and  James  M.  Mrs.  Fullerton  died,  Sept.  7,  1895,  ^t  the  age 
of  seventy-six.  James  M.  Fullerton,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  attended  school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
then  entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  and  engaged  in  the  tobacco 
business  until  1884,  having  become  a  member  of  the  firm  in  1883. 
In  1884  he  left  the  firm  and  established  himself  in  the  undertaking 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  risen  to  prominence.  He  is  also 
director  of  the  Pittsburg  insurance  company,  is  interested  in  the 
Keystone  laundry,  and  has  other  extensive  financial  interests.     Mr. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  87 

Fullerton  has  long  been  prominently  identified  with  the  interests 
of  the  republican  party,  has  served  as  chairman  of  the  republican 
ward  committee  of  the  fourth  ward,  and  been  honored  with  the 
office  of  school  director  in  his  ward.  He  is  president  of  Penn.  State 
funeral  directors'  association,  and  secretary  of  Allegheny  county 
funeral  directors'  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 
and  A.  O.  U.  W.  Although  not  a  member,  he  is  a  regular  attend- 
ant upon  the  services  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

^^■^^^  HARRY    W.    LOWE,   city   ganger   of 

^K^^^^^^  oils,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in 

^^^t.  .  ^^^^        ^^®  thirtieth  ward,  in   1866,  and,  in  1873, 

^^^^^»^1  P^^^      moved  to  the  thirty-first  ward,  where  he 
^^^HR  ^^,^^A     ^^^^  lives.     Here  he  attended  the  public 

^^^HUg^  1^^^^  schools,  and  afterwards  Curry  university, 
^^^^HB^^  ^^^B  from  which  he  graduated  in  1883.  He 
^^^^^n^  ^^^m  started  in  business  life  as  a  clerk  for  the 
^^^^^Pl  ^^^^M  Pittsburg  news  company,  in  whose 
^^^H^^^^^^^V  employ  he  remained  for  two  years,  and 
^^Hfl^^^^^r  then  spent  two  years  at  the  trade  of  mak- 

^^^^^^^^  ing    molds.     After  this   he   entered    the 

employ  of  the  Oliver  iron  and  steel  com- 
pany, as  shipper,  and  remained  with  that  firm  four  years.  In  1891 
Mr.  Lowe,  with  others,  organized  the  McKinley  tin  plate  company, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  Sio,ooo  and  a  plant  on  Water  street,  becom- 
ing bookkeeper  for  the  concern.  In  1892  this  company  was 
merged  into  the  Aliquippa  tin  plate  company,  capital  $45,000,  with 
a  plant  at  Aliquippa,  Pa.,  and  Mr.  Lowe  as  superintendent  of  the 
mill.  The  concern,  with  many  others,  was  wiped  out  in  the  panic 
of  1893,  and  Mr.  Lowe  then  entered  the  public  service,  his  first 
position  being  in  the  office  of  the  register  of  deeds.  He  remained 
in  this  office  about  a  year,  and  then  was  transferred  to  the  office  of 
the  collector  of  delinquent  taxes,  where  he  was  employed  as  deputy 
collector  until  June,  1902,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present 
position  by  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown.  During  his  career  in  the  pub- 
lic service  Mr.  Lowe  has  won  many  friends,  who  wish  for  him  the 
success  which  should  be  the  reward  of  ability  and  faithful  atten- 
tion to  duty. 


88  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

^^^^^^  MATTHEW    A.    HANLON,    funera] 

^^^V^H^^^  director   at   No.    no    Frankstown   Ave., 

^^^■pOT^^I^k  £^g.^    End,    Pittsburg,  was   born    in    the 

^^^^K^"^^  H^^^       ninth    ward    of    that    city,    in    1865.       In 

^^^^^^H  w^    F^^^      childhood  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 

^^^^HBt^     ^^^k     the  sixteenth  ward,  where  he  was  reared 

^^^^Hj^^^    t^^^k     and  educated,  attending  school    until  he 

^^^^^^^y    w/^^     reached  the  age  of  seventeen.    He  started 

^^^^HjjkMja^^^^V      in  the  undertaking  and  livery  business  in 

^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^        1888,  and  has  been  successfully  engaged 

^^^^^K^^^^W  in  this  business  since  then.      Besides  his 

^^^^^^^^^  business  on  Frankstown  avenue,  he  owns 

another  establishment  at  No.  5126  Butler 

St.      He   is  a   member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  belongs  to  no 

political  party,   being  an  independent  in  politics.      Mr.    Kanlon's 

father,  John  H anion,  is  still  living,  though  retired  from  active  life. 

He  was  born  in  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1831,  and  came  to  America  in 

1848.     During  the  Civil  war  he   enlisted  in  the  Union  army  as  a 

private  in  the  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until 

1865. 

GEORGE  W.  THEIS,  vice-president 
and  secretary  of  the  Monongahela  river 
coal  and  coke  company,  was  born  in 
Monroe  county,  Ohio,  Feb.  3,  1857,  where 
his  father,  George  Theis,  was  engaged 
in  farming,  stock-raising,  general  mer- 
chandising, and  as  a  leaf  tobacco  mer- 
chant. Amid  those  scenes  of  varied 
activity,  Mr.  Theis  grew  to  manhood, 
attending  the  country  schools  near  his 
home.  In  1874  he  entered  Duff's  com- 
mercial college,  of  Pittsburg,  graduating 
in  1875.  He  then  returned  to  his  home 
in  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years  as  manager  of  his  father's  leaf 
tobacco  business.  In  1877  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  from  that 
time  until  1885,  with  the  exception  of  one  summer  spent  in  Colo- 
rado, he  held  responsible  positions  as  accountant  and  general  office 
man  in  various  lines  of  business.  However,  Mr.  Theis'  successful 
business  career  began  in  1885,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as 
accountant  with  Capt.  C.  Jutte  &  Sons,  who  were  then  engaged  in 
the  steamboat  and  coal   business.      He   soon    thereafter   became 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  89 

interested  in  various  enterprises  with  the  Messrs.  Jutte,  wliich 
were  successfully  continued  until  January,  1890,  when  all  the  joint 
interests  were  merged  into  a  new  company,  styled  C.  Jutte  &  Co., 
of  which  Mr.  Theis  became  an  active  partner.  From  that  time  the 
growth  of  the  company's  business  was  phenomenal,  and  when  the 
company  sold  out  to  the  Monongahela  river  consolidated  coal  and 
coke  company,  in  1899,  it  was  regarded  as  among  the  largest  and 
foremost  shippers  of  coal  from  the  Monongahela  river.  Besides  the 
above-mentioned  business,  Mr.  Theis  is  largely  interested  in  other 
enterprises.  He  is  a  director  in  the  German-American  savings  and 
trust  company,  and  president  of  several  minor  corporations.  On 
the  whole,  he  may  justly  be  classed  as  one  of  Pittsburg's  most 
successful  business  men.  Mr.  Theis  united  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity in  1882,  being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  45,  F.  arid  A.  M. 
and  of  Zerubbabel  chapter,  and  also  Ascalon  commandery,  K.  T. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Protestant  Evangelical  church. 

^^■^^^  NICHOLAS  H.  BRADY,  butter  dealer 

^^jl^^^^ll^^  in  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md., 

^^K  ^^^        ^"^  1842.      He  came  to  Pittsburg  with  his 

BKtLm^.  ^,.       1^^^      parents  in   infancy,  and  was  reared  and 

mK^fl  '^^B      educated  in  that  city.      Being  compelled 

^K^^^f^       ^^^B     t.o  leave  school  at  an  early  age  in  order 

^^^^^^     '     j^^^H     ^^  ^^^^  ^^^  *^^^  living,  he  sold  papers  and 

^^I^OIK.    ^^^H     worked    at    various    employments    until 

^K^Kk^jt^^^m      April,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  for  a  four- 

^^^^^^^B^^^V        months'  service  in  Company  D,  12th  regi- 

^^^^^^^^^^^          ment,  Pennsylvania    volunteer    infantry, 

^^^^^^^^  under  command  of  Col.  David  Campbell. 

At  the  close  of  his  first  term  he  enlisted 

in  a  picked  independent   company  of  cavalry,  no   in   number,  to 

serve  as  body-guard  to  Gen.  James  Negley.     After  six  or  seven 

months,  this  company  was  discharged,  and  Mr.  Brady  then  joined 

the  telegraph   corps,  serving  until   the   close  of   the  war.      During 

the  war  he   took   part   in  both  engagements  at  Fredericksburg,  in 

the   second  battle  of  Bull   Run  and  in  several  minor  skirmishes. 

The  war  over,  Mr.  Brady  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  was  for  several 

years  engaged  with  his  brother  in  the  flour  and  feed  business.     In 

1892  Mr.  Brady  became  district  agent  for  Swift  &  Co.,  of  Chicago, 

his  territory  embracing  all  of  western  Pennsylvania,  and  has  held 

this  responsible  position  since  that  time.     He  is  a  member  of  Post 

No.  157,  G.  A.  R.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


90  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

PATRICK  C.  BYRNE,  deceased,  was 
for  over  twenty-five  years  a  prominent 
Pittsburg  undertaker.  He  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  in  1854,  and  reared  and  edu- 
cated there.  When  a  young  man,  he 
engaged  in  contracting  for  street  im- 
provements, and,  in  1876,  went  into  the 
livery  and  undertaking  business,  follow- 
ing this  vocation  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  13,  1902. 
He  was  at  first  associated  with  a  Mr. 
McCabe,  the  firm  continuing  up  to  1898 
as  Byrne  &  McCabe,  when  the  partner- 
ship was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Byrne  established  himself  in  business 
at  No.  5214  Butler  St.  Mr.  Byrne  was  a  Catholic  in  religious 
belief.  He  belonged  to  the  democratic  party,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  although  never  desirous  of  political  preferment 
himself.  Upon  his  death  his  widow  inherited  the  business,  and 
his  son,  Clem  Byrne,  assumed  the  responsibility  of  managing  it. 
Clem  Byrne  is  a  rising  young  business  man.  He  attended  the 
Pittsburg  schools,  and,  later,  the  Iron  City  college,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1900.     He  also  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  belief. 

THOMAS    P.    HERSHBERGER,    of 
^^'-      ,_  the  firm  of  Hershberger  8c  Son,  funeral 

directors,    thirty -sixth    ward,    Pittsburg, 
^^^   .■a.  was  born   in  the  thirty-first  ward  of  that 

'1         i^^  city,  in  1831,  was  reared  there,  and  given 

a  rudimentary  education.  Leaving  school 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  he  went  to  work 
in  a  nail  mill  located  on  Penn  avenue, 
where  the  store  of  Joseph  Horner  now 
stands.  Here  he  was  employed  four 
years,  and  afterwards  worked  for  three 
years  as  a  feeder  at  the  nail  factory  of 
Bailey  &  Brown.  He  spent  a  year  in  the 
Lawrence  mill,  now  the  Painter  rolling  mill,  then  worked  for 
fourteen  years  in  the  Woods  nail  factory,  having  charge  of  four 
machines.  In  1862  he  opened  a  livery  stable  and  undertaking 
establishment,  and  has  been  engaged  in  this  business  for  over  forty 
years.  Mr.  Hershberger  has  been  for  years  a  leader  of  the  prohi- 
bition party;  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  party  in  Allegheny 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  91 

county,  and  for  fifteen  years  its  chairman.  He  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  only  prohibitionist  who  ever  held  a  seat  in  the  common 
council  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  known  as  a  man  of  strong  individu- 
ality, and  of  character  beyond  reproach.  He  owns  some  seventy- 
five  houses  and  other  buildings  in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Hershberger  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W,  and  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a  member 
and  officer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

SAMUEL  M.  DUVALL,  in  the  court 
of  common  pleas.  No.  i,  Pittsburg,  is  a 
distinguished  veteran  of  the  Civil  war 
and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was  born  in 
what  is  now  the  ninth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
in  1832;  was  reared  there,  and  received  a 
schooling  of  only  six  months'  duration. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  learned  to 
make  tacks  in  the  mill  of  Chess,  Cook  & 
Co.,  and  was  there  employed  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  On  Aug,  15, 
1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany E,  io2d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until 
mustered  out  in  Pittsburg,  June  29,  1865.  In  May,  1862,  he  was 
made  corporal,  soon  afterwards  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  then  to 
orderly  sergeant,  and,  on  Dec.  13,  1862,  to  second  lieutenant.  He 
served  as  second  lieutenant  of  Company  E  until  November,  1864, 
when  he  was  m.ade  captain  of  the  company.  Captain  Duvall 
fought  at  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Savage  Station,  Malvern  Hill, 
second  Bull  Run,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  then  took  part  in  the  "stick  in  the  mud"  campaign  under 
Burnside.  In  the  first  day's  fight  in  the  Wilderness  he  was 
wounded  and  incapacitated  for  further  duty  until  the  corps  was 
sent  to  Washington  to  repel  Early's  demonstration.  After  this  he 
fought  in  front  of  Fort  Stevens,  at  Charlestown,  Winchester, 
Fisher's  Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  at  Sailor's 
Creek.  His  gallant  service  in  the  war  completed,  Mr.  Duvall 
returned  to  the  iron  mill,  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  tack  maker 
until  1880,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position.  In 
1867  he  joined  Post  No.  35,  now  J.  W.  Patterson  post.  No.  151, 
G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  been  commander  and  has  held  all  the 
other  offices,  including  that  of  trustee,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
six  years.     He  has  also  served  as  deputy  inspector  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


92  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

for  western  Pennsylvania,  and  was,  in  January,  1902,  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  G.  A.  R.  association  of  Allegheny  county.  Captain 
Duvall  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  lodge  in  Lodge  No.  269.  He 
belongs  to  the  Eighteenth  Street  Methodist  Protestant  church,  and 
has  served  eighteen  years  as  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school. 

THOMAS  G.  DAVIS,  assistant  treas- 
urer  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Allegheny  tele- 
phone company,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
Tredegar,  England,  in  1868,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  infancy,  the 
family  locating  in  Pittsburg.  Here  Mr. 
Davis  was  reared  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  leaving  school  in 
1884  to  enter  the  employ  of  the  American 
rapid  telegraph  company,  now  the  Postal 
telegraph-cable  company.  He  began  as 
messenger  boy,  and  rose  from  this  posi- 
tion to  bookkeeper,  and  finally  to  cashier 
and  chief  clerk.  He  left  this  company  in  December,  1902,  to 
accept  his  present  position.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  chapter  Mason,  and 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Heptasophs.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican. 

WILLIAM  DODDS,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  District  No.  5,  United  Mine 
Workers  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in 
Haswell,  Durham  Co  ,  England,  in  1864. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
county  when  a  boy,  and  at  the  age  of 
twelve  went  to  work  in  the  mines.  Six 
months  later,  his  parents  persuading  him 
to  leave  the  mines,  he  spent  fourteen 
months  as  a  teacher.  His  health  began 
to  fail  as  the  result  of  unsanitary  sur- 
roundings, and  for  about  fifteen  months 
he  was  employed  by  a  merchant  tailor 
in  Haswell.  After  the  death  of  his  mother,  Mr.  Dodds  and  his 
sister  moved  to  Marston  Rocks,  Durham  county,  where  he  spent 
several  years  on  his  uncle's  farm.  In  1881  he  decided  to  try  his 
fortunes  in  America,  and  located  at  Banksville,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa  ,  where  he  has  since  resided.      He  worked   as  a   coal   miner  in 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  93 

the  mines  of  Hartley  and  Marshall  until  February,  1898,  when  he 
was  elected  vice-president  of  District  No.  5,  United  Mine  Workers 
for  Pennsylvania.  His  services  in  this  capacity  were  so  appreci- 
ated, that  in  February,  1899,  Mr.  Dodds  was  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  organization.  He  has  since  been  three  times 
re-elected.  Mr.  Dodds  is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Sons  of  St.  George,  and  belongs  to  the  English 
Episcopal  church.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

JACOB  SOFFEL,  alderman  from  the 
thirty- second  ward,  Pittsburg,  and  court 
crier  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  No.  2, 
was  born  in  Adenbach,  Rhenish  Bavaria, 
on  June  i,  1843,  and  came  to  America  in 
1858,  going  to  Pittsburg,  where  his  older 
brother,   Peter,  had    previously    located. 
In  i860  he  began  working  in  a  shoe  store 
in    Pittsburg,  and   remained  there  until 
September,    1864,  when  he  enlisted  as  a 
private   in   Company   B,    107th   Pennsyl- 
vania volunteer  infantry.     His  first  battle 
was  at  City  Point,  Va.     He  then  served 
two  months  before  Petersburg,  and  after  that  went  with  his  regi- 
ment to  tear  up  the  Weldon  railroad.     On  the  way  back,  Mr.  Soffel 
was  in  the  rear  guard,  and  experienced  there  three  days  of  almost 
continuous   fighting.     In  the  next  battle,   at  Hatcher's  Run,  the 
regiment  went  in   600  strong,  and  came  out  with  only  113   men. 
After  this  Mr.  Soffel  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Five  Forks, 
Sailor's  Creek,   Gordonsville  and  Amelia  Court  House,  was  pres- 
ent  at  Appomattox,    then    returned    to    Pennsylvania    and    was 
mustered   out   at    Harrisburg,    in    July,    1865.      Mr.    SofEel's   war 
record  is  a  most  creditable  one.     He  brought  from  the  conflict  the 
scars  from   two  injuries,  one  received  at  Hatcher's  Run,  and  the 
other  in  a  fight  in  northern  Virginia.     After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Pittsburg,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  from    1867   to 
1875,  after  which  he  took  up   160  acres  of  land  in   Kansas,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1880,  although,  as  Mr.  Soffel  facetiously 
puts  it,  the  principal  crop  was  grasshoppers.     Returning  then  to 
Pittsburg,  he  was  engaged  until  1883  as  court  interpreter,  and  then, 
being  thrown  out  of  office  by  a  hostile  democratic  administration, 
obtained  the  position  of  court  crier,  which  he  has  since  held.     Mr. 
Soffel  has  been   for  years  a  prominent   Pittsburg  politician,  and 


94  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

always  an  ardent  republican.  In  1885  he  was  elected  alderman 
from  the  thirty-second  ward,  and  has  since  been  re-elected  three 
times  to  that  position,  without  opposition.  He  is  a  director  in  the 
South  Hills  investment  company,  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M., 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  belongs  to  the  German 
Protestant  church. 

GEORGE  B.  CHALMERS,  United 
States  customs  appraiser,  Pittsburg,  has 
been  in  the  government  employ  for  over 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  born  in 
Aloa,  Scotland,  in  1839,  and  came  with 
his  parents,  in  1848,  to  Pittsburg.  In 
April,  1861,  he  became  a  private  in  the 
Pittsburg  city  guards,  and  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  for  three 
months,  the  company  becoming  then 
Company  K,  12th  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry.  His  first  term  of  service  over, 
Mr.  Chalmers  enlisted,  on  Aug.  i,  1861, 
as  a  private  in  Company  K,  63d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry, 
under  Col.  Alex.  Hayes,  and  served  as  such  until  May  15,  1862, 
when  he  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  the  company.  In  December 
of  the  same  year  he  became  captain,  and  as  senior  captain,  he  had 
charge  of  the  regiment  on  many  occasions  during  the  war.  He 
served  throughout  the  Peninsular  campaign,  receiving  at  the  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks  an  injury  so  severe  as  to  disable  him  for  some  six 
weeks.  After  this  he  took  part  in  the  engagements  of  second  Bull 
Run,  Chantilly,  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and  was 
present  during  all  the  three  days  of  terrible  fighting  at  Gettys- 
burg. Captain  Chalmers  was  in  command  of  four  companies  on 
the  skirmish  line,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  In  the  Wilderness  he  was  so  badly  wounded  as 
to  incapacitate  him  for  further  fighting,  so  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  service  at  the  Annapolis  hospital  on  Aug.  6,  1864. 
He  was  then  obliged  to  go  on  crutches  for  four  months  afterwards. 
On  receiving  his  discharge.  Captain  Chalmers  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg, and  was  engaged  in  business  for  ten  years  with  his  brother. 
John  B.  Chalmers,  a  general  contractor.  In  June,  1874,  he  was 
appointed  and  commissioned  United  States  customs  appraiser  in 
the  United  States  custom-house  at  Pittsburg  by  President  U.  S. 
Grant,  and  has  been  in  the  custom-house  ever  since,  except  during 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  95 

the  first  administration  of  President  Cleveland.  Mr.  Chalmers  is 
a  republican  in  politics.  Although  now  a  resident  of  the  four- 
teenth ward,  he  formerly  lived  in  the  eighth  ward,  and  represented 
that  ward  in  the  city  council  for  several  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  Union  Veteran  legion,  and  was  the 
first  national  commander  of  that  organization. 

JEREMIAH  DANIEL  BUCKLEY,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prosperous  lawyer,  was 
born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  June  24, 
1848,  son  of  Daniel  and  Nano  Buckley, 
both  natives  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Buckley, 
.^^^^^  when    a   mere    infant,    accompanied    his 

I  .         ^^^P^  parents  to  America,  and  the  greater  part 

t       .^^I^K^k^  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Allegheny 

county.  The  advantages  of  a  thorough 
and  systematic  school  education  were 
denied  him,  but  he  has  largely  overcome 
those  deficiencies  by  vigorous  application 
and  well-selected  readings,  which,  com- 
bined with  a  mind  naturally  clear  and  bright,  have  placed  him  on 
a  secure  educational  basis.  The  early  part  of  his  life  was  devoted 
to  steel  work,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  manager  of  a 
mill.  Subsequently  Mr.  Buckley  read  law  in  the  offices  of  C.  F. 
McKenna,  and  also  with  former  Judge  Fetterman,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  1896  and  since  then  has  practiced 
in  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  enjoys  a 
lucrative  legal  business.  Mr.  Buckley  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  municipal  affairs,  having  served  eighteen  years  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  and  for  almost  five  years  repre- 
sented the  thirty-fourth  ward  in  council.  He  was  married  at  Pitts- 
burg, in  1870,  to  Sarah  McDavid,  and  they  have  five  living 
children,  viz.:  Daniel  J.,  a  member  of  the  bar  and  in  the  office 
with  his  father,  born  July  4,  1872;  Ellen  Nellie,  born  in  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  and  the  wife  of  Peter  Fosnight;  Sarah  Gertrude,  born 
June  21,  1879;  Laura  Mabel,  born  April  i,  1883,  and  Nano  Marie, 
born  Dec.  6,  1884,  Mrs.  Buckley  died  on  June  15,  1885,  and  Mr. 
Buckley  was  married  the  second  time  to  Minnie  H.  Ziegler,  by 
whom  he  has  had  three  children:  Minnie  E.  Z.,  born  May  23,  1894; 
J.  Dewey,  born  May  18,  1898,  and  Mary,  born  Nov.  9,  1903. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


FRANK  D.  SAUPP,  president  of  the 

Young  Men's  tariff  club  of  Pittsburg  and 

secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Pittsburg 

Physicians'  supply  company,  is  a  promi- 

1^  IH^      nent  Pittsburg    business  man.      He  was 


^^^^     born    and    reared    at    Loretto,    Pa.,  and 


^^^^^■I^^^^^H^I     attended  school  there,   afterwards  com- 

I^^^PHMp'^^^^B     pleting  his  education  at  St.  Francis'  col- 

^^K^^Sf^^K^m       lۤ6>  from  which  he  graduated  in  1881. 

^^^^KSl^^^^v        He  then  went  to  Braddock,  Pa.,  where  he 

^^^^^^^^^^^  was   employed    for    eight    years   in    the 

^^^^^^^^r  mechanical   engineering    department    of 

the  Carnegie  steel  company.     In  1897  he 

came    to   Pittsburg,   and  became   secretary  and   treasurer   of   the 

Physicians'    supply   company.       Besides    being    president    of   the 

Young  Men's  tariff  club,  which  is  a  social  rather  than  a  political 

organization,  Mr.  Saupp  is  also  a  member  of  the  Americus  club, 

but   belongs   to   no    secret    orders.       In    political    belief   he    is   a 

republican. 

GEORGE  H.  STENGEL,  register  of 
wills,  Pittsburg,  has  been  for  years  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Pittsburg  bar, 
and  is  known  as  a  man  of  sturdy  honesty, 
of  an  aggressive,  able,  and  energetic 
nature.  He  is  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Pittsburg 
since  1864,  with  the  exception  of  five 
years,  from  1881  to  1886.  After  the 
usual  preparatory  education,  he  took  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Western  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  going  abroad  to 
complete  his  education  at  the  University 
of  Heidelberg.  He  began  practicing  law  in  1886,  and  is  a  man 
well  equipped  to  perform  those  duties  of  his  office  which  require  a 
legal  training.  Mr.  Stengel  served  in  the  Pittsburg  common 
council  from  1896  to  1898,  and  during  this  time  stood  openly  for 
clean  and  honest  government.  Throughout  his  career  he  has 
always  been  actively  connected  with  those  who  oppose  dishonesty 
and  extravagance  in  public  office. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  97 

GEORGE  WILLSON  GOSSER,  a 
member  and  secretary  of  the  board  of 
assessors  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg in  1853,  attended  school  there,  and, 
in  1867,  graduated  from  the  public 
schools.  He  then  learned  the  machinists' 
trade  and  entered  the  employ  of  Carnegie 
&  Co.  He  remained  with  this  firm 
twenty-one  years,  until  1892,  serving  in 
various  capacities,  and  was  steadily 
advanced  until,  at  the  last,  he  was  a 
roller,  and  had  charge  of  the  plate 
department.  In  1892  Mr,  Gosser  organ- 
ized ihe  Lawreuceville  (Pa.)  bronze  company,  and  has  been  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  organization  from  the  first.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  assessors  in  1897,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1900.  In  1895  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  served  four  years.  In  the  same  year  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  central  board  of  education,  was  re-elected  in  1897, 
and  again  in  1901.  Mr.  Gosser  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained  the  thirty-second 
degree,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  Shriner.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

CHARLES  H.  SACHS,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  at  No.  427  Diamond  St.,  was  born 
in  Russia,  Sept.  29,  1877,  son  of  Hyman 
D.  and  Libbie  Sachs,  both  natives  of 
Russia.  His  father  died  in  Pittsburg, 
May  7,  1900,  and  his  mother  now  resides 
in  that  city.  Charles  H.  Sachs  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  the  United  States 
in  1883,  located  in  Pittsburg,  and  received 
his  literary  training  in  the  second  ward 
school  and  at  the  academical  department 
of  Pittsburg  high  school.  He  matricu- 
lated at  the  Pittsburg  law  school,  and  there  was  graduated  with 
the  initial  class  of  that  institution  in  1897.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  Allegheny  county,  September,  1898,  and  now  has  a 
comfortable  law  business,  being  a  member  of  all  Pennsylvania 
courts  and  of  the  United  States  circuit  court.  On  his  admission  to 
1-7 


98  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

the  bar,  Mr.  Sachs  became  a  partner  of  Alexander  Spiro,  tinder 
the  firm  name  of  Spiro  &  Sachs;  in  September,  1901,  H.  C. 
Levey' was  admitted,  and  the  name  became  Levey,  Spiro  &  Sachs; 
in  May,  1902,  Mr.  Spiro  retired,  and  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Levey  &  Sachs;  in  April,  1903,  that  firm  was  dissolved,  and  since 
that  time  Mr.  Sachs  has  maintained  an  independent  office.  He 
was  the  organizer  of  the  Cosmopolitan  National  bank  of  Pittsburg, 
and  for  over  a  year  was  a  member  of  its  directorate.  Mr.  Sachs  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  B'nai  B'rith,  is  unmarried, 
and  resides  in  the  seventh  ward. 

MALCOLM     GRIERSON,    of     Pitts- 
burg,   Pa.,  a    successful    attorney,    with 
offices  in  the  Methodist  Protestant  build- 
ing at  No.   422  Fifth  Ave.,  was  born  in 
Birmingham,  England,  Dec.  13,  1878,  son 
of   Donald   and    Celene    Grierson.       He 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  when 
1^'"^''^    k      ■       *     only  four   years   of   age,  located   in    To- 
^^j^^^^^BjIJj^w      ronto,     Canada,     and    four     years     later 
^^^^^v^JH^V       removed  to  Braddock,  Pa.     Mr.  Grierson 
^^^^^H^^^^^         was   educated   in    the    graded   and   high 
^^^^^^^^^  schools   of  North    Braddock,  graduating 

from  the  latter  institution  in  1896,  and 
then  taught  school  in  Allegheny  county  for  several  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  also  reading  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Lawry. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  September, 
1901,  and  since  has  practiced  in  Pittsburg  with  much  success.  On 
March  i,  1903,  Mr.  Grierson  became  a  partner  of  his  former  pre- 
ceptor, Thomas  Lawry,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lawry  &  Grierson, 
and  they  enjoy  a  splendid  law  business.  Mr.  Grierson  resides  in 
the  borough  of  North  Braddock,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
First  Methodist  church  of  that  borough  and  vice-president  of  the 
Epworth  league  of  that  church.  Thomas  Lawry,  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  was  born  at  St.  Ives,  England,  March  28,  1857,  son 
of  Henry  and  Mary  Lawry,  both  natives  of  England  and  both 
deceased.  Mr.  Lawry  came  to  America  with  his  mother  in  1864, 
his  father  having  preceded  them,  and  they  located  at  Johnstown, 
Cambria  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  elementary  courses  in 
the  public  schools  of  Johnstown,  and  later  attended  the  high  school 
of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where  subsequently  he  was  graduated  from 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  with  the  degree 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  99 

of  bachelor  of  laws.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan  in 
1892,  soon  after  his  graduation,  and  in  September  of  that  year  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county.  He  practiced  his  pro- 
fession at  Pittsburg  until  1898,  when  he  removed  to  Seattle,  Wash., 
and  resumed  his  practice  in  that  city.  Failing  to  become  imbued 
with  the  "Seattle  spirit,"  after  a  residence  of  two  years  on  Puget 
sound,  Mr.  Lawry  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  has  since  met  with 
much  success  in  his  professional  career  in  the  metropolis  of  western 
Pennsylvania.  He  served  as  solicitor  for  the  borough  of  Braddock 
from  March,  1896,  to  March,  1898,  was  also  solicitor  for  the  Brad- 
dock  school  board  for  two  years  and  for  five  years  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Braddock  township.  During  his  residence  in  that  borough, 
Mr.  Lawry  also  published  a  newspaper  called  the  Braddock  Journal, 
which  was  well  received.  He  is  a  member  of  all  courts  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Mr. 
Lawry  was  married  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Feb.  19,  1903,  to  Mrs.  Alice 
Aukerman,  and  their  home  life  is  an  ideal  one. 

A.  WALTER  RINEHART,  manager 
of  the  Postal  telegraph-cable  company, 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  the 
fourth  ward,  in  1864.  He  is  a  son  of 
Prof.  Edward  E.  Rinehart,  and  grandson 
of  Wm.  Rinehart,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Pittsburg.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Pittsburg,  graduating  from  the  com- 
mon schools  in  1877.  In  1886  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Young,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Young.  Mr.  John 
Young  is  general  superintendent  of  the 
Philadelphia  heating  company.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  sons,  viz.  :  W.  Wallace,  A.  Walter,  Jr.,  and 
Jno.  C.  Mr.  Rinehart  began  to  learn  telegraphy  in  1877,  and  was 
employed  until  1887  by  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  the  Western 
Union  telegraph  company.  He  then  entered  the  office  of 
the  Postal  telegraph-cable  company,  where  he  served  six  years  as 
assistant  chief  operator  and  five  years  as  night  manager.  His 
ability  and  attention  to  duty  won  him  promotion  in  January,  1902, 
to  the  position  of  manager.  Mr.  Rinehart  is  a  republican  in  politi- 
cal belief,  and  while  never  an  aspirant  for  office,  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 


100  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

CHARLES  B.  McFAIL,  manager  of 
the  Holmes  electric  protective  company 
of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Waterville, 
Me.,  in  1861,  and,  in  1873,  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Presque  Isle,  Me.  Mr. 
McFail  then  entered  the  employ  of  the 
American  union  telegraph  company  at 
Portland,  Me.,  and  was  engaged  by  this 
company  and  others  for  several  years  in 
the  construction  of  telegraph  lines.  He 
first  became  connected  with  the  Holmes 
electric  protective  company  in  1884,  and 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  this  company 
since  then.  Here  his  faithful  services  and  native  ability  won  him, 
in  1889,  the  position  of  manager,  which  he  has  since  held.  Mr. 
McFail  is  an  ardent  republican  in  politics,  but  while  taking  a  great 
amount  of  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party,  has  never  held  office 
or  cared  for  political  preferment  for  himself.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

§  WILLIAM     F.     WALSH,     alderman 

from  the  thirty-fifth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Bedford  county.  Pa., 
k  in  1867.  He  is  a  son  of  William  F.  and 
1  Margaret  (Morrissay)  Walsh,  and  they 
H  were  the  parents  of  six  children:  Mar- 
P  garet,  Thomas  A. ,  John  E. ,  Patrick  J.  and 
^"  Mary  A.,  all  deceased,  except  Patrick  J. 
I  and  our  subject,  Wm.  F.  The  father  died 
July  6,  1888.  Themother  is  still  living  in 
Pittsburg  with  her  son,  P.  J.  Our  subject's 
parents  brought  him  to  Pittsburg  in  1869, 
and  there  Mr.  Walsh  was  raised  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  attended  school  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  eighteen,  and  then  spent  three  years  working  for  his 
father,  William  F.  Walsh,  a  general  contractor.  Mr.  Walsh  was 
married,  Aug.  15,  1889,  to  Mary  J.  Golden,  daughter  of  Patrick 
and  Mary  Golden,  and  to  whom  was  born  one  child,  Richard  J. 
After  this  he  was  employed  at  the  Duquesne  club,  imtil  March, 
1900,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  by  Governor 
Stone.  Although  appointed  only  to  fill  a  vacancy,  Mr.  Walsh 
served  his  ward  so  well  that  in  February,  1901,  the  voters  elected 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  101 

him  to  the  office  for  a  five-year  term.  In  politics  he  has  long  been 
an  active  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Macca- 
bees. He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Walsh, 
besides  being  alderman,  is  a  prominent  real  estate  and  insurance 
man. 

ROBERT  J.  H.  MALONE  is  the 
eleventh  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children 
born  by  the  marriage  of  William  and 
Ruth  Ann  (Bevington)  Malone,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Washington 
county.  Pa.,  in  which  they  passed  their 
entire  lives,  the  father  finally  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years 
and  the  mother  in  her  seventy- ninth  year. 
Of  their  large  family,  five  were  sons  and 
eight  were  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  though  two  of  the  sons  and 
three  of  the  daughters  are  now  deceased. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  Dec.  2,  1853,  on  a  farm  near 
the  present  village  of  Bulger,  on  the  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati,  Chicago 
&  St.  Louis  railroad,  in  Washington  county.  In  youth  he  mani- 
fested a  strong  inclination  for  an  education,  and  applied  himself 
diligently  at  the  public  school  near  his  home.  He  finally  entered 
Sewickley  academy,  then  being  conducted  by  Prof,  and  Mrs. 
James  Dickson,  took  a  full  course  and  was  duly  graduated  there- 
from; but  during  this  period  ceased  his  attendance  long  enough  "to 
teach  a  term  of  school  at  his  old  home.  Succeeding  his  graduation, 
he  was  elected  assistant  principal  of  the  Sewickley  public  schools, 
and  the  following  year  was  chosen  principal  of  the  public  schools 
of  Tarentum,  in  which  capacity  he  officiated  for  the  period  of  three 
years.  He  then  resigned  in  order  to  accept  higher  duties  and 
responsibilities  as  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Etna,  Pa.,  and 
as  such  served  acceptably  for  five  years,  adding  much  to  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  educational  system  of  that  town.  He  finally  resigned 
his  school  duties  in  order  to  take  up  the  study  of  law,  in  1884,  in 
the  office  of  H.  T.  Watson,  on  Diamond  street,  Pittsburg,  and  there 
he  remained  hard  at  work  until  April,  1887,  when  he  was  duly 
admitted  to  the  bar.  On  April  i,  1888,  he  and  William  J.  Barton 
took  offices  together  in  the  Yoder  law  building,  at  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Wylie  avenues,  and  there  they  have  remained  associated 
ever  since,  receiving  a  fair  patronage  from  the  public.     During 


102  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

his  active  career  as  a  lawyer  he  has  served  as  school  director  in  the 
borough  of  Etna  for  twelve  years,  and  was  at  one  time  borough 
solicitor.  In  1902,  when  the  First  National  bank  of  Etna  was 
organized,  he  became  a  stockholder  therein,  and  was  elected  its 
president,  which  important  position  he  continues  to  fill.  Soon 
after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he  married  Miss  Jennie  L.  Meyer, 
of  Sharpsburg,  Pa.,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Etna,  and  there 
they  have  continued  to  reside.  To  their  marriage  the  following 
children  have  been  born:  Elsie  M.,  Robert  W.  (deceased),  Stanley 
H.,  Roy  E.,  Bernice  K.  and  Lillian  Hope.  Mr.  Malone  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Heptasophs  and  of  Etna  Borough  council,  R.  A.  He  is 
identified  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Etna. 

JOHN  J.  McALINNEY,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  successful  young  attorney,  with 
offices  at  No.  1105  Prick  building,  was 
born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ulster  province, 
Ireland,  Oct.  11,  1878,  son  of  Bernard 
and  Mary  Ann  (O'Brien)  McAlinney, 
both  natives  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
and  residents  of  Pittsburg  since  1880. 
His  parents  had  ten  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the  surviving 
ones,  exclusive  of  himself,  are:  Joseph 
M.,  Isabel  T.,  Margaret,  Rose  E.,  Ber- 
nard E.  and  Bessie.  John  J.  McAlinney, 
when  but  two  years  of  age,  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  settled  in  Pittsburg,  and  since  has  made  that  city  his  home. 
He  acquired  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  public  schools,  later 
attended  the  central  high  school,  and  was  there  graduated  in  1899. 
He  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  L.  M.  Plumer,  a  well-known 
attorney  of  Pittsburg,  and  subsequently  attended  the  Pittsburg 
law  school,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1902  and 
received  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  on  June  21,  1902,  began  the  practice  in  July  of  that  year  and 
is  now  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  successful  and  best-equipped 
of  the  younger  members  of  the  Pittsburg  bar.  Mr.  McAlinney  is 
well  versed  in  the  principles  of  law,  and  this  knowledge,  combined 
with  the  native  wit  and  ability  so  characteristic  of  the  Irish  race, 
makes  him  a  worthy  opponent  in  the  forensic  field  and  assures  him 
much  success  in  his  chosen  profession. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  103 

JOHN    PIERCE,    assistant   to   Theo- 
dore  J.  Shaffer,   president  of  the  Amal- 
^k^it^p^^^l^^^^        gamated    association    of    iron,   steel  and 
mm-'^kj^L  ^fe^BB      ^^"^    workers   of   the    United    States    and 
mF    'l^^  ^^tW      Canada,  was   born   in    County   Wexford, 

■f '  k-  "W*  .  :^M  Ireland,  in  1845.  He  came  with  his  par- 
■^  %^  W^^MH  ents  to  America  in  1848,  the  family  locat- 
"K^  J|Mtfr  lfl|H|f  ing  first  at  Chartiers,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
and  then  moving,  in  1854,  to  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.  Here  both  parents  of  Mr. 
Pierce  died,  the  mother  in  1858  and  the 
father  in  1862.  The  boy  came  to  Pitts- 
burg, beginning  work  on  Oct.  10,  1862, 
in  the  nail  department  of  Jones  &  Laughlin's  iron  mill.  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  in  the  employ  of  Jones  &  Laughlin  until  Aug.  6, 
1897,  beginning  as  a  nail  feeder,  and  ending  as  roller  in  the  plate 
mill.  After  this  he  spent  a  year  in  Birmingham,  Ala.,  and  then 
gave  up  active  work  to  devote  his  attention  to  the  association  of 
which  Mr.  Shaffer  is  president.  Mr.  Pierce  first  joined  the  Amal- 
gamated association  of  steel,  iron  and  tin  workers  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada  in  1877,  was  elected  trustee  in  1899,  and 
assumed  his  present  position  as  assistant  to  President  Shaffer  in 
June,  1900.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Catholic,  and  in  politics  a 
democrat.  He  served  as  school  director  from  the  twenty-fourth 
ward,  Pittsburg,  for  three  years,  from  1884  to  1887. 

JOHN  CARNEY,  funeral  director  in 
Pittsburg,  was  born  at  St.  Johns,  N,  B., 
in  1845,  ^iid  came  to  Boston,  Mass.,  with 
his  parents,  when  six  months  old.  Here 
he  lived  until  his  eighth  year,  moving 
then  to  Brady's  Bend,  Armstrong  county, 
where  he  attended  school,  and  resided 
until  1865.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went 
to  work  in  the  rolling  mill  of  the  Brady's 
Bend  iron  company,  remaining  with  this 
firm  five  years,  and  being  employed  at 
the  last  as  a  rougher.  In  1865  he  came 
to  Pittsburg,  became  a  heater  for  Jones 
&  Laughlin,  and  remained  with  this  firm  until  1898,  when  he  went 
into  the  undertaking  business,  at  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
He  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  belief,  and   a  democrat  in  politics. 


104  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Mr.  Carney's  son,  John  J.  Carney,  who  is  nominally  the  head  of 
the  undertaking  establishment  now  located  at  No.  2526  Carson  St., 
South  Side,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  the  twenty-fifth  ward,  Pitts- 
burg, in  1872.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Pittsburg,  attending 
the  public  schools,  and  afterwards  the  Holy  Ghost  college,  from 
which  he  graduated.  Having  completed  his  education,  he  became 
timekeeper  in  the  Bessemer  department  of  the  Jones  &  Laughlin 
iron  mill;  was  employed  there  about  two  years,  and  then,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1895,  embarked  in  the  undertaking  business,  which  has 
been  his  occupation  since  then.  Mr.  Carney  passed  the  required 
examination  in  January,  1896. 

CLARENCE  LEMOYNE  PHILLIS, 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful  architect, 
was  born  in  upper  St.  Clair  township, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  April  6,  1852,  son  of 
William  T.  and  Hannah  Little  (Arneel) 
Phillis.  His  paternal  ancestors  were 
German,  and  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Joseph  Phillis, 
was  the  first  member  of  the  family  to 
settle  in  that  part  of  Pennsylvania. 
Joseph  was  a  window  glass  blower,  and 
located  at  what  is  now  the  South  Side  of 
Pittsburg,  where  he  reared  his  family, 
consisting  of  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  viz. :  Jacob  Joseph,  Lewis, 
and  Susan,  who  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ryan.  Jacob 
Joseph  Phillis,  grandfather  of  Clarence  L. ,  married  a  Miss  Verner, 
and  their  only  child  was  William  T.,  the  father  of  the  subject. 
William  T.  Phillis  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Temperanceville, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  and  when  quite  young  lost  both  of  his  parents 
through  death,  his  father  having  been  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river, 
at  the  confluence  of  Saw  Mill  run,  about  1826.  William  T.  Phillis 
was  adopted  by  his  mother's  family,  where  he  remained  until  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican 
war.  After  that  war  he  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburg  and 
engaged  in  steamboating  on  the  lower  river  until  1861.  He  then 
enlisted  for  a  three-year  service  in  the  Union  army,  and,  at  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  re-enlisted  and  served  through- 
out the  remaining  days  of  that  sanguinary  struggle.  Later  he 
returned  to  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  was  employed  by  Jones  & 
Laughlin  for  some  time,  and  died  on  Sept.  27,  1872.     His  wife  died 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  105 

on  July  13,  1879.  Their  children  were:  Margaret  Ellen, 
Clarence  L.,  William  H.,  Mary  A.  and  Franklin  S.  (deceased). 
The  following  genealogical  table  is  taken  from  the  family  Bible  of 
Mr.  Phillis'  maternal  grandmother,  Margaret  E.  Holmes,  who  was 
born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1779,  viz.  :  William  Holmes 
married  Jane  Neal,  in  1673,  and  they  had  two  children:  Katie, 
born  Oct.  8,  1674;  James,  born  in  1676.  William  Holmes  died  in 
1695,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years,  and  Jane  Neal  Holmes  died 
in  1707,  aged  fifty-four  years.  Katie  Holmes  married  Robert 
Carnahan,  in  1693,  but  no  children  to  this  union  are  recorded. 
James  Holmes  married  Ellen  Graham,  in  1706,  and  to  them  were 
born:  Twin  boys,  in  1707,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  John,  on 
July  13,  1709;  Margaret,  in  171 2;  Thomas,  in  17 14.  James  Holmes 
and  his  son,  John,  were  lost  at  sea  in  1727;  Margaret  died  in  1718, 
and  Ellen  Graham  Holmes  died  in  1739,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  Thomas  Holmes  married  Hannah  Little,  in  1740,  and  their 
children  were:  James,  born  1742,  date  of  death  missing;  Ellen, 
born  1745;  Margaret,  born  1748;  William  H.,  born  1750;  John, 
born  1753.  Thomas  Holmes  died  in  1786,  Hannah  Little  Holmes 
in  1772,  and  Ellen  married  Hugh  Marshall,  in  1766,  but  left  no 
children.  Margaret  Holmes  married  David  Gray,  in  1771,  and 
died,  in  1793,  without  recorded  issue.  John  Holmes  married  Mary 
Kincaid,  in  1776,  and  their  children  were:  John,  born  in  1778; 
James,  born  in  1781.  Mary  (Kincaid)  Holmes  died  in  1789,  and 
her  husband  married  Catherine  Wallace,  in  1793,  she  being  a 
widow  with  one  son,  Harry  Wallace,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  William  M.,  born  1795;  Thomas  H.,  born  1797; 
Margaret  E.,  born  1799,  and  John  and  James,  with  no  record  of 
date  of  birth.  Catherine  (Wallace)  Holmes  died  in  1822,  but  the 
date  of  the  death  of  her  husband  is  not  shown.  William  M.  Holmes 
died  in  1878,  aged  eighty-three  years,  and  was  buried  in  Iowa. 
No  record  of  marriage  or  death  of  Thomas  Holmes.  Margaret  E. 
Holmes  married  John  Arneel,  in  182 1,  and  their  children  were: 
Mary,  born  1824;  Hannah,  born  1826;  Margaret  J.,  born  1828, 
John  Arneel  died  on  the  voyage  from  Ireland  to  America,  and  was 
buried  in  Canada,  about  1830,  and  his  widow  married  James 
Stewart,  in  1847,  by  whom  she  had  no  children.  Margaret  E. 
(Arneel)  Stewart  died  on  April  14,  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  and  her  husband,  James  Stewart,  died  Oct.  19,  1871. 
Hannah  L.  Arneel  married  William  T.  Phillis,  in  1849,  and  their 
children  were:  Margaret  E.,  born  May  30,  1850,  married  a  Mr. 
W.  T.  Powell,  and  died  on  May  28,    1891;    Clarence    L.,    subject 


106  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

of  this  sketch,  bora  April  6,  1852;  William  H.,  born  Oct.  29,  1854; 
Mary  A.,  born  June  5,  1857;  Franklin  S.,  born  Oct.  24,  1859,  and 
died  Sept.  16,  1877.  Clarence  L.  Phillis  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  began  his  business  career  in  a  rolling  mill,  where 
he  remained  for  four  years.  Later  he  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
pentering and  followed  that  line  of  work  for  a  number  of  years. 
Subsequently  he  returned  to  the  rolling  mill,  where  for  a  time  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  mechanical  operations  of  the  mill.  For  the 
past  twelve  years  he  has  followed  his  present  vocation  of  architec- 
ture, and  has  met  with  success  in  that  profession.  Mr.  Phillis  has 
been  married  three  times.  He  was  first  married  to  Rachael 
Hermany,  and  they  had  three  children:  John  Franklin,  an  archi- 
tect, born  Dec.  26,  1876,  and  married,  on  Oct.  9,  1902,  Estella  M., 
daughter  of  Alexander  W.  and  Caroline  Douds,  of  Turtle  Creek, 
Pa. ;  Alice  Leah,  born  in  March,  1878,  and  Hugh,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Phillis  was  married  on  the  second  occasion  to 
Mary  S.  Shoemaker,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Clarence  M.,  born 
June  24,  1889.  His  third  marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Caroline  (Brehm) 
Keitz,  a  widow  with  one  son,  William,  and  their  wedded  life  is  an 
ideal  one. 

CHRISTOPHER  MAGEE,  Jr.,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney, 
was  born  in  that  city,  Oct.  3,  1863,  son 
of  Christopher  and  Elizabeth  Louise 
(McLeod)  Magee.  Christopher  Magee, 
Sr. ,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Dec.  5,  1829, 
and  is  the  son  of  Christopher  and  Jane 
(Watson)  Magee.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Western  university,  and  also  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadel- 
phia, from  which  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  classics  in  1849,  and  from 
the  law  department  in  185 1.  He  entered 
on  a  successful  practice  in  Allegheny  county,  secured  and  main- 
tained high  rank  as  an  advocate  and  counselor,  and,  in  1886,  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  by  Governor 
Patterson.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  was  elected  to  succeed  him- 
self in  that  position  for  a  term  of  ten  years.  He  also  served  in 
the  State  legislature  and  in  the  common  council,  and  is  still  in  the 
active  practice  of  law,  being  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected 
members  of   the  Allegheny  county  bar   association.     Christopher 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  107 

Magee,  Jr.,  received  his  classical  education  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1887.  He  then  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Judge  Dallas,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
1889,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws,  the  degree  of  bachelor 
of  arts  having  been  previously  awarded  him  by  his  alma  mater. 
Since  then  Mr.  Magee  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  his  pro- 
fession, and  stands  high  at  the  bar.  He  was  married  at  Bridgeton, 
N.  J.,  on  June  i,  1892,  to  Julia  Vodges,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Edward  P.  and  Carrie  (Titus)  Heberton,  and  the  following  children 
have  been  born  to  them:  Christopher,  on  March  28,  1893;  Margaret 
Mitchell,  on  Jan.  4,  1895;  Helen  Heberton,  on  April  27,  1897; 
Norman  Heberton,  on  Dec.  31,  1900,  and  Julia  Heberton,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1902.  Mr.  Magee  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  is  identified  with  its  efforts  toward  the  elevation  and  better- 
ment of  the  human  family. 

®EDSON  KIMMEY,  superintendent  of 
the  Postal  telegraph-cable  company  at 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  iVlbany,  N.  Y.,  in 
1868,  and  resided  there  until  1885,  when 
he  graduated  from  the  Albany  high 
school.  He  then  went  to  work  for  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  telegraph  company, 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Commercial 
Union  telegraph  company  in  1886,  and 
was  engaged  for  a  time  in  establishing 
various  offices  in  the  northern  part  of 
New  York.  In  1887  he  became  operator 
for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  at  Long 
Branch,  N.  J.,  and,  in  the  same  year,  was  sent  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  was  employed  as  operator  to  the  superintendent  of  the 
metropolitan  district  of  the  company.  In  1888  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Postal  telegraph-cable  company,  as  operator  in  New 
York.  His  rise  since  that  time  has  been  deservedly  rapid.  In 
1893  he  became  manager  at  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  was  sent  to  Pittsburg 
in  the  same  capacity  in  1900,  and,  in  March,  1902,  became  super- 
intendent of  the  Pittsburg  district.  This  district  includes  West 
Virginia,  and  extends  on  the  north  to  the  New  York  State  line, 
and  on  the  east  to  Altoona,  Pa.,  and  Hancock,  Md.  Mr.  Kimmey 
is  a  member  of  the  Blue  lodge,  F.  and  A.  M. 


108 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


r 


CHARLES  F.  ANDERSON,  alder- 
man from  the  fourth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  the  ward  which  he  now 
represents,  Aug.  12,  1849.  His  father, 
Robert  Anderson,  a  prominent  man  in 
his  time,  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Pittsburg,  in  1852,  and  served  six  years. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Pittsburg,  and  left  school  at 
seventeen  years  of  age  to  learn  the 
moulder's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until 
1874.  He  first  entered  the  employ  of  the 
city  in  1878,  and  has  since  that  time  held 
many  responsible  public  positions.  From  1878  to  1880  he  was  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  city  treasurer;  from  1880  to  1887  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  county  commissioners.  He  was  appointed  clerk  in  the 
office  of  William  H.  Barclay,  United  States  pension  agent,  where 
he  remained  four  years,  and  then  went  into  the  office  of  Bernard 
McKenna,  who  was  at  that  time  alderman  from  the  fourth  ward. 
In  1893  Mr.  Anderson  was  appointed  alderman  to  succeed  Mr. 
McKenna,  who  had  resigned  to  become  mayor  of  the  city.  In 
February,  1894,  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office  for  a  five-year 
term,  and,  in  1899,  was  re-elected.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  democrat 
in  political  belief.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


CORNELIUS  F.  FORD,  captain  of 
Station  No.  5,  Pittsburg  police  force,  is 
a  native  of  the  eleventh  ward,  Pittsburg, 
and  has  been  on  the  police  force  of  that 
city  since  1889.  Captain  Ford  was  born 
in  March,  1854;  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  at  sixteen  years  of 
age  went  to  work  for  a  wholesale  liquor 
firm.  He  was  employed  by  this  firm 
about  two  years,  and  then,  for  several 
years,  held  a  position  in  a  rolling  mill. 
In  1889  he  resigned  to  accept  an  appoint- 
ment as  patrolman,  serving  in  this  capac- 
ity until  1901,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  captain. 
Captain  Ford  is  a  republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  109 

THEODORE  RAYBERT  McLAIN. 
chief  clerk  to  the  collector  of  delinquent 
taxes,  city  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  at 
Johnstown,  Pa.,  in  1874.  Moving  in 
infancy  to  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  with  his 
parents,  he  lived  there  the  first  seven 
years  of  his  life,  the  family  moving  then 
to  Greensborough,  N.  C,  where  they 
remained  until  1884.  Coming  with  his 
parents  to  Pittsburg,  Mr.  McLain 
attended  the  public  schools,  and,  in  1891, 
graduated  from  the  high  school.  He 
then  entered  the  office  of  collector  of 
delinquent  taxes  as  clerk,  and  was,  in  1899,  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  clerk  in  that  office,  the  position  which  he  now  holds. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Pres- 
byterian church.  Mr.  McLain  became  a  private  in  Company  E, 
14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard,  in  1889,  and  served 
ten  years,  passing  through  all  the  grades  until  he  attained  the 
position  of  first  lieutenant.  In  the  Spanish-American  war  he 
accompanied  his  regiment  as  second  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  and 
was  mustered  out  at  Summerville,  S.  C,  Feb.  28,  1899,  with  the 
rank  of  regimental  adjutant. 

JOHN  K.  DORRINGTON,  a  retired 
coal  man,  of  Pittsburg,  was  born,  Jan.  10, 
1828,  on  a  farm  near  Carnegie,  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.  ;  came  to  Pittsburg  in 
infanc)',  and  was  there  reared  and  given 
a  primary  education  in  the  ward  school. 
Afterwards  he  spent  two  years  at  Frank- 
fort academy.  In  1849  he  took  the  over- 
land route  to  California,  where  he  worked 
for  three  years  in  the  gold  mines.  In 
the  fall  of  1852  he  returned  to  Pittsburg 
by  the  Nicaragua  route.  In  1855  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Hezlep,  of 
Allegheny  city;  went  to  Minnesota,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  St. 
Peter,  on  the  Minnesota  river.  In  1862  a  fierce  rebellion  broke  out 
among  the  Sioux  Indians  at  Fort  Ridgely,  near  New  Ulm.  He 
shouldered  his  gun,  and  with  some  of  his  neighbors  started  for 
New  Ulm,  where  the  frontier  settlers  were  concentrating  to  give 


110  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

battle  to  the  Indians.  The  next  day  after  the  arrival  at  New  Ulm, 
the  Indians  surrounded  the  town,  and  the  battle  commenced,  last- 
ing forty  hours.  The  Indians  were  defeated,  the  town  saved  from 
devastation,  and  the  women  and  children  from  massacre.  In  1864 
he  sold  his  property  in  Minnesota,  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  went 
into  the  river  coal  business,  continuing  in  the  same  for  thirty-two 
years.     In  1896  he  retired  from  active  business. 

EDWARD  STANLEY  CORLETT, 
superintendent  of  East  Liberty  station, 
Pittsburg  postoffice,  was  born  on  the  Isle 
of  Man  in  1870,  and  in  infancy  came  to 
America  with  his  parents.  The  family 
located  first  at  Elizabeth,  Allegheny 
county,  then  moved  to  a  farm  near 
Homestead,  and  afterwards  to  Home- 
stead. The  subject  of  this  sketch  received 
a  common-school  education  in  the  Home- 
stead schools,  and  when  ten  years  old,  went 
to  work  in  a  glass  factory.  He  spent  two 
years  in  the  glass  factory,  two  years  on 
a  farm,  and  then  became  timekeeper  and  weigh-master  in  the  open 
hearth  department  of  the  Carnegie  steel  company's  plant  at 
Homestead.  He  gave  up  this  position  in  1890,  and,  coming  to 
Pittsburg,  spent  a  year  in  the  night  school  of  the  Iron  City  busi- 
ness college.  He  took  the  civil  service  examination,  and  was 
appointed  as  messenger  in  the  registry  department  of  the  Pittsburg 
postoffice.  Mr.  Corlett  has  been  employed  in  the  postal  service 
ever  since,  and  has  risen  rapidly  to  his  present  important  position. 
In  1892  he  was  made  special  delivery  clerk,  and  as  such  had  charge 
of  all  the  city  special  delivery  service.  In  1898  he  became  weigh- 
master,  and  about  a  year  later,  when  the  present  postmaster, 
George  L.  Holliday,  came  into  office,  Mr,  Corlett  was  made  super- 
intendent of  Station  C,  on  the  South  Side.  Here  he  remained 
until  July,  1902.  when  he  was  transferred  to  his  present  place, 
which,  in  point  of  business,  ranks  above  all  other  stations  in  the 
city.  Mr.  Corlett  is  a  Mason,  and  belongs  to  the  Blue  lodge.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  East  End  board  of  trade. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


111 


^^K^^^  PATRICK  DOLAN,  president  of  Dis- 

^^^^^^^^^  trict    No.    5,    United    Mine   Workers   of 

"^^^K       ^^^        Pennsylvania,  was  born  of   Scotch-Irish 

^^Hp|^  ^^k      parents,    at  Court    Bridge,    Lanarkshire, 

I^^H^        ?^^k     Scotland,  in  1858,  and  came  to  America 

^^^■^   ^^^     in  1886,  locating  at  McDonald,  Pa.     Mr. 

•    laJ^^^^^^  ^^^H     Dolan    began  working  in  the   mines  in 

l«I^I^^B^  .^^^M     Scotland  when  only  eight  years  old,  and, 

^^^^^SK^M^^^m      on    coming   to    McDonald,   continued    to 

^^^^^^^^^Bj^B        work  as  a  miner  until  1896,  when  he  was 

^Hj^n^^^^^^  elected   president  of  District  No.  5.     In 

^^^^^^^^^  this  capacity  he  has  served  so  faithfully 

and  shown  such  a  fitness  for  the  position, 

that  he  has  been  re-elected  each  year — in  1901  and  1902 — without 

opposition.     On   Dec.  12,  1901,  at  a  convention   of  the  American 

Federation  of  Labor  held  at  Scranton,  Pa.,  Mr.  Dolan  was  elected, 

without  opposition,  as  one  of  the  two  delegates  from  America  to 

the   meeting  of   the   British   trades  congress,    which   was  held  in 

England  in  September,  1902.     Mr.   Dolan  is  a  member  of  Lodge 

No.  II,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  of  Pittsburg;  Fort  Pitt  conclave.  Independent 

Order   of  Heptasophs,    Old    Glory   chapter,    American    Insurance 

Union,  Knights  of  Maccabees  and  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians. 

He  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  in  political  belief 

he  is  a  republican. 


JEREMIAH  CARNEY,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  successful  lawyer,  with  offices  on 
Diamond  street,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
city,  Pa.,  Dec.  12,  1870,  son  of  John  J. 
and  Jane  (Evans)  Carney,  both  residing 
at  South  Side,  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Carney 
was  educated  in  the  thorough  public 
schools  of  Pittsburg  and  at  Curry  univer- 
sity. Then  he  read  law  in  the  offices  of 
Walter  Lyon,  a  prominent  lawyer  and 
former  lieutenant-governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on 
Sept.  17,  1892,  Since  then  Mr.  Carney 
has  practiced  in  Pittsburg  with  much  success,  is  a  member  of  all 
courts,  and  holds  a  position  of  honor  and  respectability  among  the 
attorneys  of  Allegheny  county.  He  was  married  in  Allegheny 
city,  Feb.  25,  1896,  to  Emma  Whitney,  and  their  home  life  is  a 


112  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

pleasant  one.  Mr.  Carney  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of 
United  American  Mechanics  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
is  a  resident  of  Knoxville,  Pa.,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  a 
councilman  of  that  borough. 

WILLIAM  MONROE  BENHAM,  an 
attorney  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  on 
April  8,  1866,  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
De  Witt  C.  and  Cynthia  A.  Benham. 
His  forefathers  were  early  settlers  on  this 
continent,  his  ancestor,  John  Benham, 
coming  to  America  from  England  in  1630 
on  the  ship  "Mary  and  John,"  and  mak- 
ing his  home  in  New  England.  Mr. 
Benham  received  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  New 
Brighton,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  Geneva  college,  Pa.,  in  the 
class  of  1887,  being  awarded  the  general  excellency  prize  for  the 
highest  grade  of  any  student  in  the  institution  during  that  year. 
Having  pursued  the  classical  course,  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts 
was  conferred  upon  him.  In  the  autumn  of  1889  he  entered  the 
law  department  of  Columbia  university.  New  York  city,  where  he 
remained  during  the  prescribed  time  of  three  years,  being  gradu- 
ated therefrom  in  June,  1892,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws 
cum  laude.  At  the  commencement  exercises  the  committee  on 
awards  presented  him  with  the  first  prize  of  $250  for  greatest 
knowledge  and  highest  attainments  in  his  law  studies.  While  at 
Columbia,  Mr.  Benham  read  law  in  the  office  of  Carter,  Hughes 
&  Kellogg,  of  New  York  city,  and  at  a  general  term  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York  on 
Dec.  7,  1 89 1,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  several  courts  of  that 
State.  During  his  first  year  at  Columbia,  he  was  elected  president 
of  his  class,  consisting  of  250  members,  and  upon  the  resignation 
of  Dr.  Theodore  Dwight  as  warden  of  the  law  department,  in 
June,  1891,  he  was  selected  by  his  classmates  to  present  to  Dr. 
Dwight  a  handsomely  embossed  memorial.  Mr.  Benham,  after 
receiving  his  diploma  from  Columbia,  in  June,  1892,  returned  to 
Pittsburg,  where,  in  September  of  that  year,  he  took  the  prescribed 
examination  and  was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar.  He 
at  once  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsburg, 
and   in    due    time  was   admitted    to   practice    in  the  supreme  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  113 

superior  courts  of  Pennsylvania  and  in  the  United  States  circuit 
and  district  courts.  He  has  met  with  success  in  his  profession, 
having  a  large  clientage  both  in  the  civil  and  criminal  courts, 
besides  representing  a  number  of  corporations.  Mr.  Benham 
enjoys  the  trial  of  cases,  and  before  a  jury  is  a  forcible  and  effect- 
ive speaker.  Mr.  Benham  belongs  to  several  organizations.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order,  and  in 
the  year  of  1901  was  elected  supreme  senator  of  the  order,  the 
highest  office  in  the  country.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, being  a  member  of  Crescent  lodge,  No.  576,  of  Pittsburg,  and 
also  of  Pennsylvania  consistory,  which  gives  him  the  thirty-second 
degree  in  Masonry,  He  is  also  a  member  of  Pittsburg  lodge, 
No.  II,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  the  Allegheny  county  bar  association  and 
the  University  club.  Politically,  Mr.  Benham  is  a  republican,  and 
has  for  years  performed  effective  work  on  the  stump  for  his  party. 
He  has  held  several  offices  in  his  party,  having  been  president  of 
his  district  organization,  member  of  the  county  committee,  and  is 
at  present  on  the  twentieth  ward  committee  and  one  of  the  three 
committeemen  from  that  ward.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  various 
republican  conventions,  and  has  presided  over  a  number  of  them 
and  upon  several  occasions  has  placed  in  nomination  certain  candi- 
dates for  office.  Mr.  Benham  is  called  upon  very  frequently  to 
deliver  public  addresses  of  various  kinds,  as  he  is  a  fluent  and 
eloquent  speaker. 

JOHN  WILLOCK  BROWN,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  rising  young  attorney,  was 
born  on  the  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  Oct.  4, 
1879,  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  Elizabeth 
(Willock)  Brown,  His  father  is  a  native 
of  Allegheny  county,  and  was  for  several 
years  prominent  as  a  business  man  of  the 
South  Side.  In  October,  1897,  he,  with 
his  father  and  family,  removed  to  Wil- 
kinsburg.  Pa.,  where  he  and  his  father 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and 
became  well  known  as  successful  real 
estate  brokers.  His  mother  is  a  native 
of  Allegheny  county  and  a  member  of  the  Willock  family,  which  is 
very  prominent  and  influential  in  the  county.  John  Willock 
Brown  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Pittsburg,  having  attended 
the  twenty-eighth  ward  and  the  Pittsburg  high  school,  graduating 


114  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

from  the  latter  institution  in  1897.  During  the  following  year  his 
attention  was  devoted  to  post-graduate  study.  In  September,  1899, 
he  began  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Brown  &  Stewart, 
prominent  attorneys  of  Pittsburg,  and  also  attended  the  Pittsburg 
law  school,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1902.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  county  and 
State,  and  since  has  devoted  his  talents  and  energies  to  his  profes- 
sion, in  which  he  has  met  with  considerable  encouragement  and 
achieved  a  splendid  standing  among  the  younger  attorneys  of 
Allegheny  county. 

WILLIAM  KAUFMAN,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  successful  practitioner  of  law,  with 
offices  at  No.  413  Fourth  Ave.,  was  born 
at  No.  16  Cedar  Ave.,  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.,  Nov.  9,  1 87 1,  son  of  Simon  and 
Sibilla  (Marks)  Kaufman,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  settled  in  Pitts- 
burg in  1849,  and  for  many  years  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
clothing.  He  died  in  Allegheny  city^ 
May  10,  1900,  and  is  survived  by  his 
wife,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  now  resides  in  Allegheny  city. 
William  Kaufman  was  educated  in  the  elementary  branches  in  the 
schools  of  Allegheny  city,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1887, 
and  subsequently  spent  two  years  at  the  Western  L^niversity  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  then  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  was  graduated  from 
that  sterling  institution  in  189 1.  He  took  a  special  course  at 
Harvard  law  school,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county^ 
September,  J892,  and  since  has  continuously  practiced  in  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  of  the  Allegheny 
county  bar  association.  Mr,  Kaufman  has  rapidly  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  now  stands  well  among 
the  attorneys  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  recognized  as  an  able  and  care- 
ful counselor  and  an  active  and  aggressive  advocate,  and  enjoys  a 
fine  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  223,  F. 
and  A.  M. ;  Park  lodge.  No.  973,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  Hope  lodge. 
No.  243,  K.  of  P.  Mr.  Kaufman  served  as  president  of  the  Con- 
cordia club  of  Allegheny  city  for  two  years,  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  governing  council  of  that  organization. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  115 

ANDREW  WATSON  FORSYTH,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  well-known  attorney-- 
at-law,  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
Oct.  14,  1874,  son  of  William  R.  and 
Jeannette  (Black)  Forsyth.  His  father 
was  born  about  1849,  and  died  at  Pitts- 
burg in  1885,  and  his  mother  was  born 
in  Allegheny  county,  and  died  at  Pitts- 
burg in  1897.  Andrew  W.  Forsyth 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Pittsburg 
when  a  mere  infant,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  that  city,  attending  the 
graded  and  high  schools  and  the  Western 
university.  He  is  a  graduate  of  both  the  classical  and  law  depart- 
ments of  the  Western  university — from  the  former  in  1897  and 
from  the  latter  in  1900.  Since  then  Mr.  Forsyth  has  practiced  his 
profession  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and 
enjoys  a  lucrative  practice. 

ALBERT  P.  MEYER,  one  of  the 
younger  attorneys  of  the  Allegheny 
county  bar,  is  certainly  one  who  is  worthy 
of  mention  in  these  volumes.  Shakes- 
peare has  said  that  "Some  men  are  born 
great,  some  achieve  greatness  and  some 
have  greatness  thrust  upon  them." 
Whatever  degree  of  greatness  Albert  P. 
Meyer  may  have  reached,  has  been 
achieved  by  untiring  industry  and  the 
exercise  of  superior  judgment.  He  is  the 
son  of  William  C.  and  Sophia  Meyer,  and 
was  born  at  Sharpsburg,  Pa.,  Oct.  26, 
1876.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  after  a  brief  term  in  the  preparatory  school  of 
the  city  of  Pittsburg,  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
ex-Governor  Stone.  On  June  8,  1901,  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
at  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  was 
married,  June  21,  1902,  at  Lisbon,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Ella  G.  Miller,  a 
resident  of  the  city  of  Cleveland.  His  offices  are  at  No.  202  Bake- 
well  building. 


116 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


GEORGE  L.  ROBERTS,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  distinguished 
attorney,  with  offices  in  the  Park  building,  was  born  in  Rushford, 
Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  7,  1852,  son  of  Benjamin  Titus  and  Ellen 
(Stow)  Roberts.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of 
Buffalo,  and  later  graduated  at  the  University  of  Rochester,  New 
York.  Then  he  removed  to  South  America,  where  for  five  years 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Argentine  government.  Subsequently 
he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  read  law  in  the  offices  of 
Wallace  Brown  and  M.  F.  Elliott,  of  Bradford,  McKean  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880.  He  practiced  in  that 
county  with  much  success  until  1895,  when  he  removed  to  Pitts- 
burg, was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar,  and  since  has 
been  continuously  in  the  practice  at  Pittsburg  and  in  West  Vir- 
ginia.    He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  West  Virginia  in  1895,  and 


GEORGE   L.  ROBERTS. 


CHARLES   G.  CART 


DAVID   E    MITCHELL. 


devotes  a  considerable  part  of  his  time  to  practice  in  that  State. 
He  is  a  member  of  all  courts,  the  Allegheny  county  and  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  bar  associations,  and  is  senior  member  of  the  prom- 
inent law  firm  of  Roberts  &  Carter.  He  is  president  of  the  Bradford, 
Bordell  &  Kinzua  railway  company,  and  is  a  member  of  the  cham- 
ber of  commerce  and  of  the  Pittsburg  country  club.  Mr.  Roberts 
was  married  at  Wilcox,  Pa.,  Jan.  8,  1888,  to  Winnifred,  daughter 
of  John  L.  and  Mary  Murphy,  and  their  home  life  is  happy  and 
halcyon.  Charles  Gibbs  Carter,  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Roberts  &  Carter,  was  born  at  Titusville,  Pa.,  April  14,  1867,  son 
of  Col.  John  J.  and  Emma  (Gibbs)  Carter.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Titusville  and  at  Phillips  academy,  of 
Andover,  Mass.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1887.  Subsequently 
he  matriculated  at  Yale  university  and  was  graduated  from  that 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  117 

famous  college  in  1891,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  He 
then  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Mortimer  F.  Elliott,  of  Wellsboro, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  and  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Tioga  county  in  1893,  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county 
in  1894,  and  also  to  the  bar  of  West  Virginia  the  same  year.  He 
is  a  member  of  all  courts  in  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia  and 
practices  in  both  States.  Mr.  Carter  is  a  member  of  the  Duquesne, 
Union,  Pittsburg  law,  Yale  and  Automobile  clubs,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburg  chamber  of  commerce.  He  was  married 
in  Pittsburg,  Jan.  6,  1900,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  P.  and 
Hannah  B.  (Fahnestock)  McBride,  and  they  have  had  two  daugh- 
ters, Emma  and  Mar)%  the  former  dying  in  infancy.  Mr.  Carter  is 
one  of  Pittsburg's  prominent  citizens  and  resides  in  the  twentieth 
ward.  David  E.  Mitchell,  an  associate  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Roberts  &  Carter,  was  born  in  Titusville,  Pa  ,  Jan.  15,  1876,  son  of 
Claude  and  Dora  (Eaton)  Mitchell,  the  former  being  cashier  of  the 
Bradford  National  bank,  of  Bradford,  Pa.,  and  the  latter  dying  on 
Aug.  15,  1895.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  educated  in  the  rudimentary 
branches  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Bradford  and  completed 
his  classical  training  at  Harvard  university,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1897  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  He  then  entered 
Harvard  law  school,  was  there  graduated  in  1899  with  the  degree 
of  bachelor  of  laws,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny 
county  in  1900.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Mitchell  has  been  continu- 
ously in  the  practice  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  several 
courts  and  enjoys  a  fine  law  business. 

ARTHUR  D.  RODGERS,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  well-known  young  attorney, 
with  offices  at  No.  222  Bakewell  building, 
was  born  in  that  city.  May  8,  1875,  son  of 
Hugh  H.  and  Martha  (MacGinnis) 
Rodgers,  both  now  residing  at  McKee's 
Rocks,  Pa.  His  father  has  retired  from 
active  life,  but  during  his  business  career 
was  prominent  as  a  mechanical  engineer, 
and  is  well  known  in  McKee's  Rocks  and 
that  section  of  the  county.  His  parents 
had  six  children,  viz.  :  John  H.  (de- 
ceased), George  G.,  Robert  G.,  Hugh  H., 
Isabel  and  Arthur  D.  Mr.  Rodgers'  ancestors,  both  paternal  and 
maternal,  were  members  of  the  colonial  families  of  America,  and 


118 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


both  of  his  grandfathers  were  soldiers  in  the  patriot  army  during 
the  American  Revolution.  Arthur  D.  Rodgers  acquired  his  clas- 
sical education  in  the  schools  of  Pittsburg  and  under  the  tuition  of 
Rev.  Charles  Hogue,  an  Episcopal  clergyman.  Then  he  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  Patterson,  a  leading  attorney  of  Pittsburg, 
and  attended  the  Pittsburg  law  school,  where  he  was  graduated, 
in  1901,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  Mr.  Rodgers  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  shortly  after  graduating,  and 
has  met  with  much  success  in  the  law.  He  is  a  bright  and  ener- 
getic young  man,  and  is  destined  to  succeed  well  in  his  vocation. 


JOHN  MORRISON  HUNTER,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  distinguished  attorney- 
at-law,  was  born  in  Cowanshannock  town- 
ship, Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  19,  1850, 
son  of  James  and  Susan  (Kinley)  Hunter, 
both  natives  of  Westmoreland  county, 
Pa.  James  Hunter,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject, was  a  son  of  James  Hunter,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  was  born  on  Dec.  18, 
1818.  He  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
Keystone  State,  and  was  prosperously 
engaged  in  farming  and  blacksmithing. 
Susan  Kinley  was  descended  from  the 
Cunninghams  on  the  maternal  side,  her  mother  having  been  Mary 
Cunningham  and  a  member  of  a  prominent  family.  John  M. 
Hunter  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Indiana 
county,  and  at  the  academies  at  Covode,  Indiana  and  Elder's 
Ridge,  Pa,  He  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  Edward  S.  Golden,  of 
Kittanning,  Pa.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Armstrong  county, 
Nov.  23,  1873,  where  he  practiced  with  much  success  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  October,  1888,  Mr.  Hunter  was  admitted  to  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar,  and  since  has  practiced  continuously  in  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  has  achieved  high  standing  as  an  attorney  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  Allegheny  county 
bar.  Mr.  Hunter  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  controls  a  magnifi- 
cent practice.  He  was  married  in  Armstrong  county.  Pa.,  July  4, 
1892,  to  Belle,  daughter  of  Frank  and  Mary  Powell,  of  Armstrong 
county,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  James  B.,  Mary  G., 
A.  Marion  and  Grace  V.  Mr.  Hunter  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Oakmont,  of  which  organiza- 
tion he  has  been  a  trustee  for  fifteen  years. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  119 

CHRISTIAN     F.    OYER,     alderman 
from  the  eleventh  ward,  Pittsburg,   was 
born,   Sept.    i6,   1850,  within   a  block   of 
^m  wm  where  he  now  has  his  office.     His  parents 

^     -  were  both  natives  of  Prussia,  who  came 

#to  America  early  in  the  past  century.  His 
father.  Christian  Oyer,  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
cigars  and  chewing  tobacco.  Christian 
F.  Oyer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
attended  school  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  fifteen,  when  his  father's  death  made 
it  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  work.  He 
worked  at  his  father's  trade  as  a  journeyman  until  1875,  and  then 
went  into  business  for  himself.  In  1895  he  was  elected  alderman, 
in  which  capacity  he  so  pleased  his  constituents  that  they  re-elected 
him  in  1900.  Since  giving  up  the  tobacco  business,  Alderman 
Oyer  has  devoted  his  attention  to  real  estate  and  insurance.  From 
1893  to  1899  he  served  on  the  school  board,  representing  the 
eleventh  ward,  his  father  having  also  been  a  school  director  for 
nine  years.  Alderman  Oyer  is  a  member  of  the  Heptasophs, 
Jr.  O.  U,  A.  M.,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lutheran,  and  in  politics  an  ardent 
republican. 

STEPHEN  T.  TOOLE,  alderman  from 
the  first  ward,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
New  Orleans,  La.,  in  1859,  but  came  to 
Pittsburg  in  infancy,  and  was  there 
reared  and  educated.  He  attended 
school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  thirteen, 
selling  papers  on  the  streets  after  school 
hours,  and  later  was  employed  for  five 
years,  folding  papers  in  the  office  of  the 
Pittsburg  Daily  Chronicle.  After  this  he 
went  into  a  boiler  factory,  and  there 
learned  the  sheet  iron  workers'  trade, 
being  engaged  at  this  vocation  until 
1885,  when  he  became  a  professional  baseball  player.  Mr.  Toole 
was  a  well-known  baseball  player  for  five  years,  was  a  member  of 
the  American  association,  and  played  on  the  clubs  of  Brooklyn, 
Kansas  City  and  Rochester,     Giving  up  baseball,  he  entered  the 


120  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

public  service  as  wharfmaster  of  Pittsburg-,  and  held  this  position 
until  February,  1893.  In  February,  1892,  he  was  appointed  alder- 
man by  Governor  Pattison,  and  was  elected  to  the  office  a  year 
afterwards.  His  well-deserved  popularity  next  won  him  re-election 
in  1898.  Mr.  Toole  is  worthy  past  president  junior  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Aerie,  No.  76,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

ANDREW  S.  MILLER,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  distinguished  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  at  No.  409  Grant  St.,  was  born  in 
Chartiers  township,  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  April  8,  1844,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Annie  (Reed)  Miller.  Mr.  Miller  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Washington  county,  later 
attended  the  academy  at  Hickory,  Pa., 
and  was  graduated  from  Washington  and 
Jefferson  college  in  1869.  Then  he 
attended  the  Columbia  law  school  of  New 
York  city,  subsequently  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Maj.  A.  M,  Brown,  of  Pittsburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  1873.  He  has  been  in  continuous 
practice  in  Pittsburg  since  that  time,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
and  ablest  practitioners  of  the  county.  He  controls  a  splendid 
practice  and  is  a  member  of  all  courts.  Mr.  Miller  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Bellevue  school  board  for  four  years,  two  years  of 
which  time  he  served  as  its  president.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
Bellevue  council  for  three  years,  and  held  the  position  of  director 
of  the  poor  for  Allegheny  county  for  two  years.  In  1862  Mr. 
Miller  enlisted  in  the  123d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Antietam,  Chancellorsville  and  other 
important  engagements,  and  was  mustered  out  in  August,  1863. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  John  B.  Clark  post.  No.  162,  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its 
affairs.  He  was  married  in  Allegheny  city,  April  15,  1873,  to 
Elizabeth  A.  Reed,  and  they  have  three  sons:  Thomas  A.,  a  prom- 
inent physician  of  Bellevue;  Harry  A.,  clerk  in  the  Union  National 
bank  of  Pittsburg,  and  Frank  B.,  a  student  of  Washington  and 
Jefferson  college.-  Mr.  Miller  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  organization  Mr.  Miller 
holds  the  position  of  an  elder. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  121 

WALTER  R.  BLACK,  chief  clerk  to 
the  Hon.  J.  O.  Brown,  recorder  of  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  in  Saltsburg,  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  15,  1867.  In  1872  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Tarentum,  Allegheny 
county,  and  there  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  and  educated.  He 
graduated  from  the  Tarentum  schools  in 
1882,  tutored  two  years,  and  then  taught 
five  years  in  the  public  schools  at  Taren- 
tum and  other  places  in  Allegheny 
county.  Mr.  Black  came  to  Pittsburg  in 
1890,  obtaining  the  position  of  registra- 
tion clerk  in  the  office  of  the  bureau  of  health.  Here  he  remained 
three  years,  and,  in  1893,  was  made  chief  clerk  in  the  bureau  of 
fire.  He  held  this  position  until  February.  1900,  when  he  returned 
to  the  bureau  of  health  as  chief  clerk,  and,  on  Dec.  i,  1901,  was 
appointed  to  the  responsible  position  which  he  has  since  held, 
Mr.  Black  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  lodge  in  Masonry.  In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  Methodist,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  of  Tarentum,  in  which  he  has  served  as" 
trustee,  and,  since  1898,  as  Sunday-school  superintendent.  He  is 
also  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  Asbury 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Pittsburg. 

DANIEL  J.  McCarthy,  who,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  was  jury  commissioner 
of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  186 1,  but  spent  almost  all  his  life 
in  America.  Coming  to  Braddock,  Alle- 
gheny county,  in  1S63,  he  was  reared  in 
that  city,  and  attended  school  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he 
started  to  learn  the  printers'  trade.  From 
a  printer  he  became  a  journalist,  and,  in 
1 881,  started  in  Braddock  a  weekly  paper, 
which  he  called  the  Tribune,  continuing 
the  publication  of  this  paper  until  1891. 
In  1890  Mr.  McCarthy  bought  the  News,  a  Braddock  daily  paper, 
and  ran  this  paper  until  1900.  He  had  long  been  interested  in 
politics,  and  was,  in  1887,  appointed  by  President  Cleveland  to  be 
postmaster  of  Braddock,   and  had  at  that  time  the  distinction  of 


122  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

being  the  youngest  postmaster  in  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  jury  commissioner  in  1897,  and  re-elected  in  1900.  Mr. 
McCarthy  was  a  member  of  St.  Brendan's  church.  Among  his 
business  interests  he  was  secretary  of  the  Sadie  Belle  gold  mining 
company  at  St.  Joseph's,  Utah,  Mr.  McCarthy  was  married, 
June  27,  1889,  to  Sarah  E.  Churchill,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Sarah  (Beach)  Churchill.  Two  children  were  born  to  them, 
Madeleine  and  Ursula.      Mr.  McCarthy  died,  May  6,  1903. 

GEORGE  B.  PARKER,  of  Pittsburg, 
*  .Jg^"'  Pa.,  a  well-known    attorney-at-law   with 

*^  flH^Bk  offices  at  No.  426  Diamond  St.,  was  born 

^j^HHB  in    West    Finley    township,    Washington 

^IW^HH  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.    2,    1862,    son   of  the   late 

"^JMBt  Warren      and      Margaret      (Sutherland) 

W^U^^^U^m  Parker.   His  father  was  born  in  Washing- 

^^K /^lBj^j[^^  ton  county,  Pa.,  Oct.  19,  1826,  and  was  a 

v|^HB|HM|^|H|r       son    of     Hiram     and     Nancy    (Heaton) 
y^^^^^^^^^^m        Parker.     Warren  Parker  spent  his  entire 
^^^B        ^^^W  life  in  his  native  county,   where  he  was 

^^    ' J^^^  extensively  engaged  in  agriculture  until 

hisdeath,  Dec.  24,  1892.  Margaret  Suther- 
land Parker  was  born  in  West  Finley  township,  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  in  February,  1830,  daughter  of  Daniel  Sutherland  and  his  wife, 
who,  prior  to  marriage,  was  a  Barnes.  Mrs.  Parker  now  resides 
in  her  native  township  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  viz.  : 
George  B.,  Addie  M.,  and  C.  W.  Parker,  bookkeeper  in  the  Second 
National  bank  of  Pittsburg,  who  married  Gertrude  McCullough, 
and  has  a  son,  Theodore.  George  B.  Parker  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  and  acquired  his  early  educational  training  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township.  Later  he  attended  the 
State  normal  school  of  California,  Pa.,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1888,  and  then  for  several  years  taught  school  with  much  success  in 
Washington  and  Allegheny  counties.  Subsequently  he  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  D.  Chantler,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  law  department  of  Dickinson  college,  of  Carlisle,  Pa., 
in  1896,  and  has  since  continuously  practiced  in  Pittsburg.  Mr. 
Parker  is  a  member  of  all  courts,  has  a  splendid  practice,  and 
stands  high  among  the  attorneys  of  Allegheny  county. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


123 


JOHN  S.  WELLER,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  successful  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  in  the  Park  building,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pa.,  Nov.  i,  1867,  son 
of  the  late  Dr.  Fred  S.  and  Mary  A. 
(Hammer)  Weller.  His  elementary  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
of  Bedford  county,  by  private  tuition, 
and  later  attended  the  Pennsylvania 
State  college,  where  he  was  graduated  as 
a  civil  engineer  in  the  class  of  1889.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  employed  on  the  sur- 
veying staff  of  the  United  States  geodetic 
survey,  where  he  made  a  fine  record.  Then  Mr.  Weller  read  law 
in  the  offices  of  Russell  &  Longenecker,  prominent  attorneys  of 
Bedford  county,  and  he  was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Septem- 
ber, 1891.  He  prosecuted  his  practice  in  Bedford  county  with  suc- 
cess, served  as  district  attorney  for  that  county  from  1894  to  1897 
and,  in  1898,  was  elected  to  the  State  senate  from  the  thirty-sixlh 
district  for  a  four-year  term.  Mr.  Weller  removed  to  Pittsburg  in 
the  fall  of  1901,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  enjoys  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  Hyndman  lodge, 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  Bedford  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons. 
His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party. 


JOSEPH  HAYS,  attorney  at  No.  429 
Diamond  St.,  Pittsburg,  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county.  Pa.,  where  he  was 
born  Jan.  9,  1832.  His  father  was 
Alexander  Hays,  also  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  where  he  resided  from  the 
date  of  his  birth,  in  179s,  until  his  death, 
^,.  k  in  1845.     His  mother  was  Ann  V.  (Ste- 

itjfKm^,  jtl^^J       venson)  Hays,  also  born   in   Washington 

^^H^      J^^^P'^        county,  in  1802,  and  died  in  1881.     Joseph 
^^^^*    i^^^^^  Hays  attended  a  private  school  at  Cross 

^^^   j^^^  Creek,  Pa. ,  and  later  attended  Washington 

college,  graduating  in  1857.  He  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Montgomery  «&  Gibson,  of  Washington,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Washington  county  in  1865,  and  to  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  the  same  year.  He  has  been  in  continuous  prac- 
tice   in    Pittsburg   since    that    date,    and    is    one    of    the    oldest 


r 


124  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

practitioners  in  Allegheny  county.  He  has  served  five  terms  as  a 
member  of  the  select  council  for  the  thirty-sixth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
and  represented  the  fourth  legislative  district  in  the  legislature 
during  1875-1876.  ]\Ir.  Hays  has  always  affiliated  with  the  demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  a  member  of  Franklin  lodge,  No.  221,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  of  Pittsburg,  and  his  religious  views  are  Presbyterian.  In 
1859  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  A.  Crawford.  They  have  three 
children:  Edgar  V.,  cashier  of  the  Union  savings  bank;  Frank  C, 
bookkeeper  in  the  Allegheny  National  bank,  and  Anna  M.,  wife 
of  Rev.  S.  J.  S.  Moore,  residing  in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Hays  is 
regarded  as  one  of  Pittsburg's  prominent  and  respected  citizens. 

■.-^^  CHARLES  A.  LOCKE,  of  Pittsburg, 

^^I^H^  Pa.,  a  successful  practitioner  of  law,  with 

ik^^^'l  offices  in  the  St.  Nicholas  building,  was 

J  born  in  Philadelphia,   Pa.,  Dec.  8,    1875. 

■^f^  fP^'  His   father   was    John   Jacob    Locke,    of 

*.4  Philadelphia,  who  died  in  1879,  and  who, 

"""^ j  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  enlisted  as  drummer 

^^Vr**"^  boy   in    Company   E,    20th    Ohio    heavy 

,^^^^^^^^^^^^        artillery,  and  later  served  as  a  lieutenant 
^H^H^H^^^^        of  mounted  infantry  in  a  Tennessee  regi- 
^^^^^^^^^^^  ment  of  the  Union  army  in  the  Civil  war. 

^^^^^Hj^^  His  mother  was    Emma  (Wiese)   Locke, 

daughter  of  Adam  Wiese,  who  was  the 
first  president  of  the  German  National  bank  of  Allegheny,  Pa. 
Mr.  Locke  graduated  from  the  Allegheny  high  school  in  1893  and 
from  the  law  department  of  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1897.  He  read  law  with  George  Elphinstone,  city  solicitor  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  also  with  John  Scott  Ferguson.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  September,  1897,  to  the 
supreme  court  of  Pennsylvania  in  October,  1902.  and  to  the 
superior  court  of  Pennsylvania  in  April,  1903.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  States  district  and  circuit  courts  and  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  association.  Mr.  Locke  is  a  member  and  a 
steward  of  Calvary  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Allegheny  city, 
and  is  a  director  of  the  central  branch  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Pitts- 
burg. He  is  a  young  man  of  ability,  integrity  and  energy,  and  is 
sure  to  achieve  permanent  success  in  the  great  and  exacting  profes- 
sion which  he  has  chosen  as  his  life's  work  and  in  which  he  has 
already  made  rapid  strides. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  125 

LUCIUS  L.  HILL,  superintendent  of 
Station  D  of  the  Pittsburg  postoffice,  at 
Wilkinsburg,  has  been  in  the  postal  serv- 
ice since  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  He 
was  born  in  Pittsburg  in  1874,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  His  first 
position  in  the  public  service  was  that  of 
messenger  at  Station  B,  at  Lawrenceville, 
under  his  father,  Robert  A.  Hill.  He 
remained  at  the  Lawrenceville  station  six 
years,  attaining  the  grade  of  mailing 
clerk,  and  was  then  transferred  to  Station 
A,  in  the  East  End,  where  he  remained 
nearly  two  years  as  a  distributor.  Mr.  Hill  was  then  appointed 
chief  clerk  on  the  mail  car  running  between  Stations  A  and  B,  held 
this  position  some  three  and  a  half  years,  and,  in  February,  1901, 
became  superintendent  of  Station  D.  Mr.  Hill  is  a  republican  in 
political  belief.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  and 
belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 

^^1^^^  GEORGE    J.    KAMBACH,    of    Pitts- 

^^^B^^^^  burg.    Pa.,  a    well-known    lawyer,    with 

^^^m        "^^^         offices  in  the  Bakewell  building,  was  born 

^^^■H  1^}'  ill  Pittsburg,  Sept.  5,  1876,  son  of  George 

^^^^^m^   '  A.  and  Lillie  E.  (Nolte)  Kambach.     His 

^^^^Hk„  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  of  German 

^^^^^^E^  extraction,  and  his  grandparents  settled 

^^^^^^      '^  in   Allegheny  county  about    1835.       His 

^^^B^»l^^         paternal  grandfather  was  Frederick  Kam- 

^^^^^T^V  vH^        bach,  a  successful  stone-mason  and  con- 

^^^^^1    ^^         tractor,    and   his    maternal    grandfather 

^^^^^\    ^  was  Jacob  Nolte,  a  prominent  citizen  of 

his  day.     George  A.  Kambach,  father  of 

the  subject,  was  born   in  Pittsburg,  May  3,  1850;  is  a  successful 

glass-worker,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  city.     He  has 

served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  the  twenty-sixth  ward, 

and  is  prominently  identified  with  the  trade  organizations,  in  which 

he  has  held  a  number  of  important  offices.     George  J.  Kambach 

was  educated  in  the  splendid  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 

attending  the   graded  and  high  schools,  and  is  well  equipped  by 

natural  and  acquired  qualifications  for  a  professional  career.     He 

read  law  in  the  office  of  Henry  Meyer,  a  prominent  attorney  of 


126  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Pittsburg,  and  subsequently  attended  the  Pittsburg  law  school, 
where  he  was  graduated,  in  1900,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
laws.  He  was  admitted  to  pra.ctice  in  September,  1899,  and  is 
meeting  with  much  success  in  his  professional  career. 


S" 


MARION  H.  MURPHY,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  leading  attorney,  with  offices  in 
the  Bakewell  building,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny city,  Jan.  27,  1S75,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Hayleigh)  Mur- 
phy, both  now  residing  in  Pittsburg. 
His  father  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  and 
I  *  ''^l-i^-  ^^V  ^^'^  many  years  was  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale commission  business  in  that  city,  but 
is  now  retired  from  active  affairs  and  is 
quietly  spending  his  declining  years  in 
his  native  city,  where  he  is  highly 
esteemed  and  respected.  The  mother  of 
the  subject  was  born  in  Tennessee,  where  her  father  was  a  promi- 
nent ante-bellum  planter  and  a  distinguished  citizen.  His  parents 
had  the  following  children:  Agnes,  wife  of  John  M.  L' Amour,  of 
Pittsburg;  Aida  V.,  wife  of  W.  C.  Weckerle,  of  Pittsburg; 
William  H.,  Francis  W.,  Marion  H.,  and  Horace  Dorsey  (deceased). 
Marion  H.  Murphy  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Pittsburg, 
attending  the  graded  and  high  schools,  and  later  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Watterson  &  Reid,  prominent  attorneys  of  Pittsburg.  Mr. 
Murphy  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1896,  and  has  since 
been  in  continuous  and  successful  practice,  being  a  member  of  all 
State  courts  and  of  the  United  States  supreme  court.  He  is  the 
legal  representative  of  the  London  guaranty  and  accident  company 
(limited),  of  Chicago,  and  also  of  the  Standard  life  and  accident 
association  of  Detroit.  Mr.  Murphy  is  prominently  identified  with 
the  democratic  party,  was  secretary  of  the  county  democratic  com- 
mittee for  three  years,  and  has  also  occupied  the  same  position  on 
the  city  committee  of  his  party.  He  has  been  closely  connected 
with  the  political  affairs  of  the  city  and  county  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  has  performed  herculean  tasks  for  his  friends.  He  is 
also  president  of  Duquesne  council,  No.  264,  Knights  of  Columbus, 
resides  in  the  twentieth  ward,  and  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  127 

OLIN  G.  A.  BARKER,  M.  D.,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  specialist  on  the  disease 
of  the  eye,  was  born  in  Ebensburg, 
Cambria  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  14,  1872,  son  of 
Florentine  H.  and  Margaret  (Zahm) 
Barker,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
Lovell,  Me.,  who  came  to  Cambria  county 
in  1857,  and  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Ebensburg.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of 
his  native  town,  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter institution  in  1890,  and  one  year  later 
entered  Lafayette  college,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1895,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  philosoph}^  and 
in  1899  his  alma  mater  bestowed  on  him  the  degree  of  master  of 
science.  He  matriculated  in  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1895,  and  was  graduated  from  that 
famous  institution  in  1898.  He  was  resident  physician  in  the  State 
hospital  at  Ashland,  Pa.,  for  one  year,  when  he  went  to  Europe 
and  took  special  courses  on  the  diseases  of  the  eye.  He  attended 
lectures  at  Berlin,  Vienna  and  London,  and  devoted  two  years  to 
the  study  of  his  specialty.  In  1901  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and 
since  has  practiced  with  much  success,  his  entire  time  being  given 
to  diseases  of  the  eye,  his  office  being  at  Nos.  1114-1117  Westing- 
house  building;  hours,  9  a.  m.  to  2  p.  m.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
dispensary  staff  of  Mercy  hospital  and  of  the  staff  of  Pittsburg  free 
dispensary.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county,  the 
Pennsylvania  State  and  the  American  medical  associations,  the 
American  academy  of  medicine,  and  of  the  Monongahela  club.  He 
is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
Dr.  Barker  is  a  member  of  the  East  Liberty  Presbyterian  church. 
The  great-great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Barker  was  John  Barker,  born 
in  1742,  who,  with  a  brother,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
was  specially  mentioned  for  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  Dr.  Barker's  father  served  two  years  in  the  Civil  war  as  a 
member  of  the  209th  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  upheld  the 
record  of  his  ancestors  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services. 
Richard  Barker,  who  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  who  received  the  first  land-title  issued  by  that  town 
(1643),  was  the  head  of  the  Barker  family  in  America,  and  from 
him  Dr.  Barker  is  descended. 


128 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


WILLIAM   FISHER. 


WILLIAM  FISHER  and  MARY 
(UUNLOP)  FISHER,  his  wife,  both 
now  deceased,  were  natives  of  Paisley, 
Scotland.  Mr.  Fisher  was  born  Dec.  22, 
1822;  attended  school,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  broadcloth  weaver  in  Paisley, 
and  came  to  America  in  1845.  ^^  ^^^t 
located  at  Canton,  Ohio,  to  which  place 
his  brother,  James,  had  come  some  years 
before.  There  he  worked  for  awhile  at 
his  trade,  when  he  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, locating-  at  Pittsburg.  Finding  no 
opportunity  open  to  him  as  a  weaver,  he 
found  employment  in  various  occupations  for  a  time,  and  then 
entered  the  iron  works  of  James  Rees  as  an  apprentice.  By  close 
attention  to  his  duties,  he  learned  rapidly  and  was  promoted 
accordingly  until  he  became  the  foreman  of  the  works.  A  little 
later  he  purchased  an  interest  in  an  iron  mill  at  Sixteenth  street 
and  Penn  avenue,  and  finally  bought  out  the  other  five  partners, 
becoming  the  sole  owner  of  the  works.  About  the  year  t88i  he 
removed  to  Twenty-fourth  and  Smallman  streets,  where  he  con- 
tinued the  business  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  5,  1895.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Pennsylvania  he  lived  in  Alle- 
gheny city,  Glenfield  and  Pittsburg.  In 
all  these  places  he  was  affiliated  with  the 
Presbyterian  church,  to  which  he  was  a 
liberal  contributor.  He  was  also  a  prom- 
inent Mason,  being  a  member  of  St.  John's 
lodge,  No.  219,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  Zerubba- 
bel  chapter.  No.  162,  R.  A.  M.  ;  charter 
member  of  Ascalon  commandery.  No.  59, 
K.  T.,  and  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite,  thirty-second  degree,  S.  P.  R.  S. 
Mary  Dunlop  was  the  daughter  of  William 
Ritchie  and  Martha  (Lang)  Dunlop.  Her  father  was  a  shawl  manu- 
facturer of  Paisley,  and  she  learned  the  business  of  shawl-making  in' 
her  father's  factory.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  William  Fisher, 
she  was  the  widow  of  Mr.  Mackie,  but  had  no  children.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Kilwinning,  Ayrshire,  Scotland;  he  was  twice 
married,  and  by  his  first  wife  he  had  several  children,  all  of  whom, 
except  William  and  Mary,  died  young.     After  the  death  of  his  first 


MRS.  MARY   FISH 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  129 

wife,  he  married  Isabella  Marshall.  One  son,  David,  was  born  to  this 
second  marriage.  When  he  was  about  five  years  old  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Glasgow,  where  he  learned  the  business  of 
designing,  engraving  and  lithographing,  and  since  1890  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Pittsburg.  William  Fisher  and  Mary  Dunlop 
were  married  at  Allegheny  city,  July  3,  1850.  To  them  were  born 
eleven  children,  viz.:  Janet,  born  April  7,  1851.  now  the  wife  of 
Thomas  McNeill,  of  Homewood,  Pa.;  Martha,  born  Feb.  5,  1853, 
married  William  Phillips,  and  died  May  3,  1899;  David,  born 
Feb.  27,  1855,  and  died  Nov.  26,  1897;  William,  born  Feb.  26,  1857, 
and  died  July  22,  1868;  James,  born  Oct.  30,  1858,  and  died 
Nov.  21,  1872;  Mary,  born  Nov.  7,  i860,  and  now  the  wife  of 
George  Gray;  Andrew,  born  April  11,  1863;  Elizabeth,  born 
July  24,  1865,  and  now  the  wife  of  A.  F.  Leggate,  a  real  estate 
dealer  on  Fourth  avenue,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  ;  Isabella,  born  July  24, 
1865,  now  the  wife  of  Albert  N.  Fames;  Margaret,  born  Dec.  4, 
1867,  and  died  Oct.  11,  1888,  and  Lilly,  born  March  13,  1870.  Mrs. 
William  Fisher  died  Feb.  2,  1900.  Andrew  Fisher  was  born  in  the 
third  ward,  Allegheny  city,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Allegheny  city  and  Glenfield,  a  private  school  in  Alle- 
gheny city,  and  two  years  in  the  Western  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  John  Barton  &  Sons,  one 
of  the  leading  law  firms  of  Pittsburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Allegheny  county,  Dec.  22,  1888,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
in  continuous  practice.  He  practices  in  all  of  the  local.  State  and 
federal  courts,  though  he  confines  his  practice  entirely  to  civil 
cases.  He  was  married  in  Allegheny  city,  Feb.  27,  1890,  to  Miss 
Evalina  L.,  a  daughter  of  August  and  Henrietta  Hartje.  They 
have  three  children:  Eleanor  Marie,  born  May  16,  1892;  Harold 
Edward,  born  Jan.  31,  1895,  and  Henrietta,  born  Oct.  21,  1899. 
The  family  lives  in  the  twenty-second  ward,  and  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs,  Fisher  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 


130 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


ROBERT  J.  CUNNINGHAM,  con- 
troller of  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  was 
born  at  Elizabeth,  Pa.,  in  i860,  and  came 
to  the  second  ward,  Pittsburg,  with  his 
parents  when  three  years  old.  From 
there  the  family  moved  to  Sewickley, 
Allegheny  county,  which  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham has  since  made  his  home.  When  a 
boy,  he  attended  school  in  Pittsburg, 
graduating  from  the  Pittsburg  schools  in 
1872,  and  then  finished  his  schooling  at 
Dickson's  academy  in  Sewickley,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1878.  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham became  a  pilot  on  the  river,  under  his  father,  Capt. 
William  Cunningham,  and  was  so  engaged  for  three  years.  After 
this  he  spent  a  year  as  circulation  man  for  the  Pittsburg  Times, 
and  for  two  years  was  special  editor  of  the  Sunday  edition  of  the 
Pittsburg  Leader.  In  1892  he  took  up  the  life  insurance  business, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  for  several  years,  until  he  was  elected  to 
his  present  responsible  position.  Before  this  he  was  for  seven 
years  a  member  of  the  Sewickley  council.  Mr.  Cunningham  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  In  politics  he  is  a  prominent  republican,  and  is  actively 
interested  in  local  party  affairs. 


WILLIAM  WASHINGTON  CAMP- 
BELL, of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
attorney,  with  offices  at  No.  413  Grant 
St.,  was  born  at  Paisley,  Scotland,  May 
26,  1842,  son  of  Hugh  and  Agnes  (Johns) 
Campbell.  His  family  is  of  Scotch  ances- 
try, and  his  father,  Hugh  Campbell,  was 
a  son  of  William  and  Jane  Campbell,  and 
a  shawl  manufacturer  in  his  native  land. 
He  came  to  America  in  1S47  with  a  com- 
pany which  intended  to  manufacture 
shawls  in  California,  but  owing  to  the  con- 
stant harassing  of  the  Indians,  this  project 
was  abandoned,  and  Hugh  Campbell  became  a  trooper  in  the  United 
States  cavalry.  He  saw  distinguished  service  in  the  Mexican  war, 
participated  in  a  number  of  bloody  fights,  and  was  so  severely 
wounded  at  Pueblo  that  he  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  131 

He  had  three  children:  William  W. ;  Hugh,  who  died  in  Aberdeen, 
Miss.,  in  May,  1901,  and  John  P.,  who  resides  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Campbell,  mother  of  the  subject,  died  in  Fairmont,  W.  Va. 
William  W.  Campbell  accompanied  his  parents  to  America  when 
only  five  years  of  age,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  St.  Louis,  removed 
to  West  Virginia.  He  was  educated  in  the  Marietta  academy  and 
college  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war 
entered  the  government  service  as  a  telegraph  operator,  and  at  the 
same  time  also  acted  in  that  capacity  for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
railroad.  He  was  stationed  at  Oakland,  Md. ;  then  at  Rowlesburg, 
W.  Va.,  and,  in  1864,  at  Fairmont,  W.  Va.,  where  he  received  and 
published  the  bulletin  pertaining  to  Lee's  surrender.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  station  for  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  railroad  at  Fairmont,  where  he  remained  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  subsequently  held  the  same  position  with  that  company 
for  many  years  at  Farmington,  W.  Va.  In  the  meantime  he  was 
devoting  his  leisure  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1880,  after  passing  a  splendid  examination  conducted  by 
John  J.  Hoag,  Altheus  Heymond  and  Judge  A,  Brooks  Fleming. 
He  practiced  in  West  Virginia  with  much  success  until  1889,  when 
he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny 
county,  and  since  has  continuously  practiced  in  that  city.  Mr. 
Campbell  is  a  democrat,  and  while  living  in  West  Virginia  took  an 
active  part  in  politics,  holding  the  office  of  commissioner  of  deeds 
and  being  defeated  for  the  office  of  county  clerk  by  the  narrow 
margin  of  eleven  votes.  He  has  been  twice  married — first,  to 
Elmina,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Jane  Straight,  of  Fairmont,  W.  Va., 
and  they  had  ten  children:  Jane  Agnes,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years  and  six  months;  Mary  Martha,  wife  of  Robert  T.  Walsh,  of 
McKeesport;  William  H.,  who  married  Jessie  Griffith  and  resides  in 
Pittsburg;  Guy  Edgar,  who  married  Edith  Phillips  and  is  a  broker 
in  Pittsburg;  Betsey  Blanch,  wife  of  Harry  T.  Foley,  of  Philadel- 
phia; Clyde  S.,  a  resident  of  Texas;  Maud  Ella,  wife  of  Elmer 
Schrock,  of  McKeesport ;  Lula  Margaret,  wife  of  W.  R.  Worthing- 
ton,  of  Greensburg;  Otto  C,  resident  of  Pittsburg,  and  Ruhamie 
Belva,  wife  of  Malcolm  B.  Brady,  of  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Campbell 
died  in  Crafton,  Pa.,  Oct.  19,  1897,  and  is  buried  in  the  Phillips 
burial  ground  near  Crafton.  Mr.  Campbell  was  married  the  second 
time,  on  Feb.  28,  1899,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Matthew  and 
Jessie  Howard,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Aurelia  Alta,  and  one  son,  Robert  Burns,  born  Sept.  19,  1903.  He 
is   a   member   and   past   noble   grand   of   Henry  Lambert  lodge. 


132  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

No.  475,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Pittsburg-  and  is  past  grand  of  Electic 
lodge  of  Farmington,  W.  Va. ,  of  which  lodge  he  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber, and  also  of  Campbell  lodge  of  Spencer,  W.  Va.  He  is  a  past 
chief  patriarch  and  representative  to  the  grand  encampment.  Mr. 
Campbell  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Crafton, 
and  resides  at  Wilkinsburg,  Pa. 

THOMAS  J.  WILSON,  whose  offices 
are  located  at  No.  422  Fifth  Ave.,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
successful  attorneys  of  the  Allegheny 
county  bar.  He  was  born,  June  9,  1864, 
in  North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Jefferson  and 
Lizzie  (Couch)  Wilson.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  North  Sewickley  township, 
Beaver  county,  and  his  mother  was  born 
at  New  Castle,  Pa.  Both  are  still  living 
and  now  reside  in  Chippewa  township, 
Beaver  county,  where  Mr.  Wilson  is  an 
extensive  fruit-grower  as  well  as  an  inventor  of  considerable  merit. 
Thomas  Jefferson  Wilson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  county,  after  which  he  took  a  course  in  Geneva  college, 
at  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.  While  attending  this  institution  he  read  law 
at  home,  and  after  leaving  the  college,  he  entered  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1891.  He 
located  at  Roanoke,  Va.,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
where  he  practiced  for  about  a  year,  when  he  contracted  malarial 
fever  which  compelled  him  to  seek  a  change.  For  the  next  two 
years  he  traveled  through  the  south  for  the  purpose  of  eradicating 
the  malarial  fever  from  his  system.  In  this  he  was  successful, 
and,  in  1894,  located  at  Pittsburg,  was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny 
county  bar,  and  has  since  that  time  been  engaged  in  practicing  in 
the  local  and  State  courts,  his  attention  being  given  almost  exclu- 
sively to  civil  cases.  He  has  a  large  clientage,  which  is  constantly 
increasing.  He  has  been  solicitor  for  the  borough  of  Pitcairn  ever 
since  its  incorporation,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  residents  of 
that  borough,  in  the  affairs  of  which  he  takes  a  deep  interest,  not 
because  he  is  the  solicitor,  but  because  he  feels  it  to  be  his  duty  as 
a  citizen.  In  this  matter  his  example  is  worthy  of  emulation,  for 
the  highest  duty  of  citizenship  is  to  know  what  to  do,  and  then  to 
have  the  courage  to  do  it. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  133 

©CHARLES  EDWARD  THEOBALD, 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  leading  member  of 
the  Pittsburg  bar,  with  offices  in  the 
Bakewell  building,  was  born  on  Oct.  23, 
1872,  in  Shaler  Township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  a  son  of  Charles  and  Caroline  (Oliger) 
Theobald,  both  natives  of  Germany,  and 
residents  of  Allegheny  county  since  1850. 
The  mother  now  resides  at  Millvale,  Pa., 
the  father  having  died  on  Oct.  5,  1899. 
C.  E.  Theobald  acquired  his  literary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Allegheny  high 
school  in  June,  1890.  He  then  took  up  the  profession  of  teaching, 
having  been  identified  with  the  Millvale  public  schools  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  with  marked  success.  He  later  abandoned  the  school 
room  and  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduating  from  that  famous  seat  of 
learning  in  June,  1898,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar  the  same  year,  and  has 
since  continuously  pursued  the  practice  of  law  at  Pittsburg  as  a 
member  of  all  the  State  and  federal  courts,  enjoying  a  splendid 
practice.  Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  republican  and  an 
aggressive  worker  in  the  ranks  of  that  party. 

©EDWARD  H.  FLOOD  is  one  of  a 
group  of  talented  and  ambitious  young 
attorneys  upon  whose  shoulders  will  some 
day  fall  the  burden  of  conducting  the  ex- 
tensive legal  interests  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  progressive  business  center  of 
the  United  States — the  city  of  Pittsburg 
and  Allegheny  county.  Mr.  Flood  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  Dec.  6,  1877.  His 
father,  James  Flood,  has  been  connected 
with  the  firm  of  Arbuckle  &  Co.,  in  that 
city,  for  upwards  of  thirty  years,  and  at 
the  present  time  holds  the  position  of 
manager.  His  mother  is  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  her 
parents,  Edward  and  Mary  A.  Houston,  being  one  of  Pittsburg's 
pioneer  families.  Mr.  Flood  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  city,  and,  in  1898,  graduated  with   honors  from  the 


134  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Pittsburg  central  high  school.  He  then  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1901.  While  in  attendance  at  the  university, 
he  became  associated  with  the  management  of  the  Western  Uni- 
versity Courant,  holding  the  position  of  editor  until  his  graduation. 
Conscientious  and  careful  in  his  profession,  Mr.  Flood  has  already 
acquired  a  responsible  arid  important  practice  at  the  Allegheny 
county  bar. 

€  GEORGE  W.  FLOWERS,  an  attorney- 

^  at-law,   with   offices   at    No.    12 14    Frick 

^^  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  a  descendant 
^^^  of  some  of  the  oldest  families  in  western 
^1^  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  John  H. 
^^H  Flowers,  was  a  native  of  Allegheny 
^^H  county,  and  his  mother,  Sarah  A. 
^^V  (Lenhart)  Flowers,  was  born  in  West- 
^^m  moreland  county,  and  is  still  living  in  the 
^^r  little  town  of  Irwin  in  that  county. 
^W  George    W.    Flowers    was    born   in  Alle- 

gheny  county.  May  15,  i860.  His 
primary  education  was  acquired  in  the 
schools  of  Irwin.  He  then  attended  Washington  and  Jefferson  col- 
lege at  Washington,  Pa,,  for  one  year,  and  graduated  from  Yale 
college  with  the  class  of  1884,  receiving  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
arts.  Soon  after  graduating,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge 
Alexander  D.  McConnell,  of  Greensburg,  Pa.,  and  began  the  study 
of  law.  While  thus  employed  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Beaver  to  the  office  of  prothonotary  of  Westmoreland  county,  to 
fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  John  Chamberlain.  Although 
a  young  man,  he  filled  the  office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term, 
acquitting  himself  with  credit  and  demonstrating  the  wisdom  of 
the  governor  in  making  the  appointment.  He  finished  his  legal 
studies  in  1889,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Westmoreland 
county.  The  following  spring  he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  and 
shortly  after  taking  up  his  residence  in  that  city,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Allegheny  county  bar.  His  practice  extends  to  all  the  courts 
of  the  two  counties  of  Allegheny  and  Westmoreland,  as  well  as 
the  State  and  federal  courts.  At  the  present  time  he  is  the 
solicitor  for  the  borough  of  Irwin,  a  position  he  has  held  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  which  shows  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  those 
who  know  him  best  and  whose  interests  have  never  been  neglected 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  135 

when  intrusted  to  his  care.  He  is  also  interested  in  a  number  of 
important  enterprises,  being  a  director  and  solicitor  of  the  Parkers- 
burg  iron  and  steel  company  and  the  Cannonsburg  iron  and  steel 
company,  president  of  the  Central  foundry  and  car  company,  and 
a  director  in  several  national  banks.  On  June  14,  1894,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sara  E.  Gregg,  of  Irwin,  Pa.  Mr.  'Flowers  is  a 
member  of  the  county  bar  associations,  and  a  member  of  Westmore- 
land lodge,  No.  518,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  has  been 
honored  by  his  lodge  by  being  elected  to  the  office  of  worshipful 
master,  the  highest  in  the  lodge,  where  he  fully  sustained  the 
good  opinion  of  his  brethren  who  conferred  upon  him  this  distinc- 
tion. Besides  his  membership  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  he 
belongs  to  the  University  and  Union  clubs  and  the  Reformed 
church. 

HUSTON  QUAIL  WALKER,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney, 
with  offices  in  the  Bakewell  building,  was 
born  in  Clinton  township,  Butler  Co., 
Pa.,  on  Tuesday,  Nov.  4,  1862,  son  of 
William  H.  and  Caroline  (McCafferty) 
Walker,  the  former  born  in  Butler 
county.  Pa.,  and  the  latter  at  Lewistown, 
Pa.,  and  both  now  residing  in  Butler 
county.  Mr.  Walker  was  educated  at 
Washington  and  Jefferson  college  and  by 
private  tutors,  and  for  a  time  taught  in 
the  public  schools  of  Butler.  He  studied 
law  in  the  offices  of  Judge  Mcjunckin  and  Judge  Galbraith,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Butler  county.  May  25,  1891,  and  there 
practiced  with  much  success  until  January,  1895,  when  he  removed 
to  Pittsburg,  having  been  previously  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Alle- 
gheny county  in  December,  1894.  Since  then  Mr.  Walker  has  con- 
tinuously practiced  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all 
Pennsylvania  and  the  United  States  district  and  circuit  courts.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  a  school  director  of  Wilkinsburg,  where  he 
resides,  and  is  well  known  throughout  that  section  of  the  county. 
He  was  married  in  Butler  county,  Pa.,  Sept.  5,  1888,  to  Margaret  E. 
Bovard,  and,  while  they  have  no  children,  yet  their  home  life  is  a 
rarely  happy  one.  Mr.  Walker  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  and  are  prominently  identified  with  its 
works  of  charity  and  benevolence. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

MAJOR  ROBERT  M.  EWING,  a 
Pittsburg  attorney,  with  offices  in  the 
People's  savings  bank  building,  was  born 
in  Bell  township,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  31,  1868.  His  parents,  James  H. 
and  Eleanor  J.  (Rhea)  Ewing,  were 
^««Mtf  '^''il^^  natives  of  Armstrong  county,  where  the 
^^^|C^_™,_  Ewing   family  were  among  the    pioneer 

^I^^^HHHfeV      settlers.     Both  parents  of  our  subject  are 
^I^Hjjj^^Hv        still  living,  residing  at  Saltsburg,  Indiana 
^^^^^^EJ/^^W  Co.,    Pa.       The     maternal     great-grand- 

^^^^■H^^  father  of  Major  Ewing  was  Hon.  William 

Findlay,  a  member  of  every  session  of 
congress  from  1790  to  1820,  save  two,  the  sixth  and  seventh.  At 
the  convention  of  the  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  held  in 
1794  at  Parkinson's  Ferry,  which  was  called  in  connection  with  the 
whiskey  insurrection,  Hon.  William  Findlay  was  one  of  the  two 
special  deputies  appointed  to  wait  upon  President  Washington  at 
Carlisle,  to  assure  him  of  their  willingness  to  submit,  and  to  dis- 
suade him  from  sending  an  armed  force  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains.  Their  mission  was  successful.  Robert  M.  Ewing  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Westmoreland  county,  the 
Saltsburg  academy,  and  Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  Wash- 
ington, Pa.  While  taking  his  collegiate  course,  he  taught  in  the 
public  schools,  and  was  for  a  time  an  instructor  in  the  preparatory 
department  of  Kiskiminetas  college.  Upon  leaving  college  he 
entered  the  law  offices  of  Watson  &  Keener,  Indiana,  Pa.,  and,  in 
June,  1892,  was  admitted  to  the  Indiana  county  bar.  Soon  after- 
wards he  removed  to  Allegheny  county,  where  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  June,  1893,  and  since  that  time  has  been  in  continuous 
practice  in  that  county.  In  1889,  while  reading  law  at  Indiana,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  5th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard, 
and  during  the  Homestead  riots  was  clerk  of  the  company.  When 
he  left  Indiana  county  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  military 
organization,  but  in  1896  he  was  appointed  regimental  sergeant- 
major  of  the  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard,  and,  in 
February,  1898,  was  elected  second  lieutenant.  In  July,  1898,  he 
recruited  a  company,  which  was  afterwards  attached  to  the  17th 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard,  and  in  August  of  the  same 
year  he  was  elected  junior  major  of  the  regiment.  When  the  17th 
regiment  was  mustered  out  and  the  14th  was  reorganized,  he  was 
made  the   senior  major  of  the  regiment,  a  position  which  he  still 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  137 

holds.  Major  Ewing  was  married,  June  14,  1894,  to  Miss  Anna  S. 
Davis,  a  daughter  of  McLain  and  Caroline  Davis,  of  Indiana,  Pa. 
One  daughter,  Caroline  Isabel,  has  been  born  to  this  marriage,  on 
March  13,  1897.  In  politics  Major  Ewing  is  a  republican.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  particularly  in  those 
affecting  the  welfare  of  Wilkinsburg  borough,  where  he  lives,  and 
which  he  has  ably  represented  as  a  school  director.  He  and  his 
wife  both  affiliate  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  father  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Hart)  Ewing  and  his  mother  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Carruthers)  Rhea,  all  belonging 
to  the  oldest  families  of  Armstrong  county. 

JOHN  L.  PRESTLEY,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney,  with  offices  in 
the  St.  Nicholas  building,  was  born  in 
Upper  St.  Clair  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  Nov.  4,  1870,  son  of  James  Prestley, 
D.  D.,  who  died  on  April  i,  1885,  and  his 
wife,  Martha  Lindsay,  who  is  now  living. 
The  Prestley  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  the  name  was  originally 
spelled  Priestley.  James  Prestley,  father 
of  the  subject,  was  a  son  of  Nathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Betty)  Prestley,  and  was  born 
in  County  Down,  Ireland,  June  23,  1815, 
and  accompanied  his  parents  to  America  in  1819.  He  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Western  university,  and  was  a  minister  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  with  charges  in  Cincinnati,  New.  York  and 
Pittsburg,  and  died  at  Carnegie,  Pa.  John  L.  Prestley  was  edu- 
cated at  the  University  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1891.  Subsequently  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  J.  J. 
Miller,  a  prominent  and  able  attorney  (now  judge  of  the  orphans' 
court,  Allegheny  county),  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Decem- 
ber, 1893.  Mr.  Prestley  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  association,  and  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice.  He 
resides  at  Carnegie,  Pa.,  and  at  present  is  burgess  of  that  borough. 
He  is  a  member  of  Centennial  lodge,  No.  444,  of  the  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  closely  identified  with  that  great 
fraternity.  On  May  12,  1898,  he  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  as  second  lieutenant  of  Company  K,  14th  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  for  duty  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  served 
until  mustered  out  on  Dec.  20,  1898. 


138 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


JAMES  F.  KANE,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
a  well-known  attorney,  with  offices  at 
No.  503  Wylie  Ave.,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg, Aug.  28,  1868,  son  of  William  and 
Ellen  (McKeever)  Kane,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America, 
first  settled  in  New  York  and  subse- 
quently i-esided  in  Pittsburg  for  fifty 
years.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Alle- 
gheny county,  resided  there  all  her  life 
and  died  on  Feb.  5,  1898.  James  F. 
Kane  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Pittsburg,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
St.  Charles  college  of  Maryland  and  later  from  the  St.  Vincent's 
college  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.  Mr.  Kane  read  law  in  the 
office  of  W.  J.  Brennan,  a  prominent  lawyer,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  September,  1896.  Since  then  he  has  been  continuously 
in  the  practice,  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  has  a  splendid 
standing  among  the  attorneys  of  the  county.  Mr.  Kane  was 
appointed  a  police  magistrate  by  Mayor  Hayes,  on  April  i,  1903, 
and  is  making  a  fine  record  in  that  capacity.  He  was  married  in 
Pittsburg,  July  20,  1898,  to  Ella  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  F.  and 
Catherine  Breen,  and  they  have  one  son,  Joseph,  who  was  born  on 
May  23,  1899.  Mr.  Kane  is  well  known  in  Pittsburg  as  an  able 
lawyer,  an  upright  judge  and  a  good  citizen. 


ALFRED  CAHEN,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 

a   well-known    attorney,    with    offices   at 

No.  412  Grant  St.,  was  born  at  Zanesville, 

Ohio,  Nov.    16,    1870,    son    of    Marx    and 

Johanna     (Berg)    Cahen,    the    former    a 

native  of  France,  who  died  in  1887,  and 

A  ^"^Hl     the  latter  born  in  Germany,  and  now  resid- 

^/^^ll^0§         ^iw      ^^2^  ^^  Columbus,   Ohio.      Mr.  Cahen  was 

'I^^^HF^   L  well  educated  in  the  literary  branches  in 

^B^M^  M  the    public    schools   of    Columbus,   Ohio, 

^^^^BHlHOF  and    then  studied  law  at  the  Ohio  State 

^^HH|^^^  university,  where   he  was  graduated   on 

June  12,  1894,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor 

of  laws.     He  was  admitted  to  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  on  Dec.  7, 

1893,  and  subsequently  read  law  in  the  offices  of  Joseph  Stadtfeld, 

and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  September, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  139 

1894.  Mr.  Cahen  is  a  member  of  all  courts,  including  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States,  and  has  a  splendid  practice.  In  1898 
Mr.  Cahen  enlisted  in  Company  D,  i8th  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  as  a  private  for  service  in  the  Spanish- American  war; 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Camp  Daniel  H. 
Hastings,  at  Mt.  Gretna,  Pa.,  May  12,  1898,  and  served  in  the 
capacity  of  a  private  soldier  until  the  command  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Pittsburg,  April  19,  1899,  when  he  was  commissioned 
by  Governor  Stone  as  captain  of  Company  D.  Mr.  Cahen  was 
married  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Dec.  17,  1902,  to  Edith,  daughter  of 
Emanuel  and  Pauline  Weiler,  and  their  married  life  has  been  a 
happy  one. 

§  WILLIAM  E.  NEWLIN,  attorney-at- 

law,  with  offices  located  at  No.  404  Prick 
building,  is  probably  one  of  the  busiest 
lawyers  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  Besides 
his  large  clientage,  he  is  interested  in 
various  manufacturing  and  mercantile 
enterprises,  being  the  president  of  the 
Heilman-James  company,  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  manufac- 
turing company,  and  within  the  last  year 
he  has  organized  the  Pittsburg  casket 
company,  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and 
one  of  the  directors.  Much  of  the  suc- 
cess of  all  these  undertakings  is  due  to  his  intelligent  and  well- 
directed  efforts.-  He  was  born  in  West  Newton,  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  30,  1861.  His  parents  were  Benson  H.  and  Ann  H. 
(Van  Kirk)  Newlin,  the  latter  still  living.  As  a  boy,  he  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Elizabeth  and  the  McKeesport  academy. 
Later  he  attended  the  Indiana  State  normal  school,  and,  in  1889, 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  Michigan  university, 
Ann  Arbor,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  In  September  of 
the  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county, 
and  began  his  professional  career.  His  course  has  been  steadily 
onward  and  upward.  Besides  his  private  practice  and  the  business 
enterprises  with  which  he  is  so  intimately  associated,  he  is  the  city 
solicitor  for  the  city  of  McKeesport.  In  his  domestic  affairs  he  is 
as  fortunate  as  he  is  in  his  business  matters.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Harrison,  of  McKeesport,  and  one  son  has  been 
born  to  them. 


140  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

GEORGE  AUSTIN  JOHNSON,  attor- 
ney-at-law,  No.  422  Fifth  Ave.,  Pitts- 
burg-, Pa.,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  the  same  State,  and  is  the  son  of 
George  Wolfe  and  Eunice  (Smith)  John- 
son, the  former  a  native  of  Green  county, 
and  the  latter  of  Washington  county, 
both  of  Pennsylvania.  George  A.  John- 
son was  educated  in  Waynesburg  college, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1885  with  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  science.  Soon  afterwards  he 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  and  completed  a  full  course  of  studies  therein, 
graduating  in  the  class  of  1890.  Previous  to  his  attendance  at  this 
famous  school,  he  read  law  in  the  ofBce  of  Wyly,  Buchanan  & 
Walton,  Waynesburg,  Pa.  In  December,  1890,  he  was  duly 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Green  county,  and  continued  to  practice  at 
Waynesburg  for  the  space  of  three  years  as  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Teagarden  &  Johnson.  In  1893  he  secured  admission 
to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county,  and  the  same  year  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  F.  Calhoun,  Esq.,  under  the  business  name  of 
Calhoun  &  Johnson.  He  has  since  continued  to  practice  his  pro- 
fession at  Pittsburg  with  steadily  increasing  success,  until  at  the 
present  time  he  has  a  large  and  profitable  clientage.  His  success 
has  been  most  gratifying,  and  is  due  solely  to  his  fitness  for  the 
higher  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  greatest  of  all  professions. 
His  power  at  the  bar  is  shown  by  his  splendid  success  both  as  a 
pleader  and  as  a  counselor.  He  practices  in  all  the  county,  State 
and  United  States  courts,  and  has  won  many  notable  cases  by 
sheer  force  of  intellect  and  knowledge  of  the  law.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  the  solicitor  for  Versailles  borough,  for  the  city  of 
McKeesport  school  district,  for  North  Versailles  township  and 
school  district,  and  for  Versailles  township  and  school  district. 
For  a  time  Mr.  Johnson  held  the  office  of  burgess  of  Waynesburg 
borough.  The  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow-citizens  is 
due  to  his  high  ability  in  his  profession.  He  takes  an  active  and 
successful  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  McKeesport,  in  which  town 
he  resides.  He  has  found  time  amid  the  arduous  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession to  polish  his  mind  and  manners  by  reading  good  books  and 
joining  good  company.  He  is  a  member  of  Versailles  council, 
Royal    Arcanum.     He   was   married,   on    May    18,    1889,    to   Miss 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  141 

Debbie  Thomas,  of  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  she  dying  on  May  14,  1895. 
On  Nov.  2,  1898,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella  Nira 
Wilson,  of  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

ROBERT   GIBSON   MATTERN,  de- 
linquent    tax     collector     for     Allegheny 
county,  for  county,  road,  poor,  dog  and 
State  taxes,  was  born  in  Hollidaysburg, 
Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  March  29,   1859.     George 
Mattern  emigrated  from  the  valley  of  the 
Rhine  in  1750,  and  settled  in  Maryland. 
^    -^^^^^^^^™     H^  came  from  near  the  Swiss  mountain, 
J^L     ^^^^H^^     ^hs  Matterhorn,  from  which  it  is  thought 
^^^^  W^lf^^^g        the  family  name  was  derived.      He  was 
^^^HL^         ^^^W  the  father  of  nine  children,  one  of  whom, 

^^Hk       ^r  Jacob,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 

this  sketch,  settled  in  the  Spruce  creek 
valley,  Huntingdon  Co  ,  Pa.,  about  the  year  1779.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  some  member  of  the  family  has  ever  since  resided  in  the 
house  that  he  at  that  time  erected.  It  was  there  that  Jacob 
Mattern,  Robert's  father,  was  born  in  1806.  Upon  arriving  at 
manhood,  he  followed  farming  for  several  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Pittsburg  and  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  retired  from 
business,  was  married  to  Margaret  Gibson,  a  native  of  Bedford, 
Pa.,  and  removed  to  Blair  county,  where  he  lived  retired  at  Holli- 
daysburg until  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  ,1873,  when  he  again  took 
up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  died  there  in  May, 
1893.  Three  children  were  born  to  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Gibson) 
Mattern,  viz.:  Robert  G.,  Frank  H.,  and  Margaret,  who  died  in 
her  early  childhood.  Robert  G.  Mattern  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic school  of  Hollidaysburg  and  at  a  private  school  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburg.  He  began  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  glass  works  of  Bake- 
well,  Pears  &  Co.  Since  that  time  his  clerical  ability  has  been 
recognized  by  some  of  the  leading  banking  and  coipmercial  con- 
cerns of  Pittsburg.  On  leaving  the  glass  works  he  became  the 
corresponding  clerk  for  the  Penn  bank.  He  was  next  in  the 
employ  of  the  Pittsburg  oil  exchange,  then  with  the  Pittsburg  steel 
works  for  a  number  of  years,  and  later  with  A.  M.  Byers  &  Co., 
wrought  iron  pipe  manufacturers.  He  left  this  firm  to  become  the 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Standard  boot  and  shoe  company, 
where  he  remained  until  appointed  to  his  present  position.  He 
received  the  appointment  of  tax  collector  in  February,  1903,  but 


142  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

did  not  assume  active  duty  until  the  following  September.  In  all 
the  positions  held  by  Mr.  Mattern,  his  conduct  has  been  marked  by 
the  fidelity,  integrity  and  ability  with  which  he  discharged  his 
duties.  Few  men  have  ever  served  their  employers  more  faith- 
fully or  have  been  more  honored  in  the  service  than  he,  and  to  his 
splendid  ability  and  sterling  integrity  is  chiefl)'-  due  his  appoint- 
ment to  his  present  honorable  and  responsible  position.  In  this 
place  he  has  the  entire  confidence  of  his  superior  officers,  as  well 
as  the  people  of  the  community,  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  he 
will  retire  from  it  with  a  clean  record  and  greater  laurels.  Mr. 
Mattern  is  a  member  of  Pittsburg  conclave,  Order  of  Heptasophs, 
and  resides  in  the  twenty-second  ward  of  that  city.  He  was  mar- 
ried, Feb.  i6,  1893,  to  Miss  Minnetta  Ihmsen,  of  Pittsburg.  Mrs. 
Mattern  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (McCloskey)  Ihmsen, 
and  a  granddaughter  of  Christian  Ihmsen,  the  founder  of  the  glass 
bottle  industry  in  Pittsburg. 

CLARENCE  ELMORE  WALLACE, 
attorney-at-law,  whose  offices  are  located 
at  No.  1214  Frick  building,  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  is  a  descendant  of  the  Wallaces  of 
Westmoreland  county.  His  father,  Wil- 
liam M.,  and  his  mother,  Ellen  M. 
(Smith)  Wallace,  were  both  born  of 
Scotch-Irish  parentage  in  the  county  of 
Westmoreland.  Mrs.  Wallace  died  in 
1877,  but  the  father  is  still  living  in  the 
county  where  he  was  born  and  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
Clarence  E.  Wallace  was  born  in  Fairfield 
township,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  i,  1873.  Like  all  farmer 
boys,  he  attended  the  district  schools  until  he  was  old  enough  and 
far  enough  advanced  in  his  studies  to  attend  the  academy,  after 
which  he  entered  the  higher  institutions  of  learning,  and  graduated 
from  the  California  State  normal  school  with  the  class  of  1894. 
For  the  next  three  years  he  was  employed  as  a  teacher,  one  year  of 
which  he  was  principal  of  the  Glenfield  public  schools,  and  two 
years  vice-principal  of  the  Derry  schools.  He  then  attended  the 
law  department  of  the  Michigan  university  for  one  year  and  the 
law  department  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania  for  two 
years,  graduating  with  honors  from  the  latter  institution  in  1900. 
While  attending  the  Western  university,  he  read  law  in  the  offices- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  145 

of  G.  C.  Lewis  and  George  W.  Flowers,  two  eminent  Pittsburg 
attorneys.  In  June,  1900,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  since 
that  time  has  practiced  his  profession  in  all  the  courts  of  Allegheny 
county.  He  is  solicitor  for  the  school  board  of  Homewood  sub- 
school  district  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  On  Sept.  28,  1900.  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sara  E.  Zahniser,  of  Fredonia,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.  They 
have  one  child,  Margaret  J.  R.,  who  was  born  on  Dec.  26,  1901. 
Mr.  Wallace  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Avenue  United  Presby- 
terian church,  and  lives  in  the  twenty-first  ward  of  the  city  of 
Pittsburg. 

CURTIS  M.  WILLOCK,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
bar,  was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  Pa., 
Dec.  17,  1875,  so'^  of  Samuel  M.  and 
Linda  (Haines)  Willock,  both  surviving 
and  residing  in  Allegheny  city.  Pa.  The 
great-grandfather  of  Curtis  M.  Willock, 
Alexander  Willock,  and  his  brother. 
Noble  Willock,  were  two  of  the  original 
107  voters  on  the  first  registry  list  of  the 
county,  compiled  in  1804.  The  ancestry 
of  the  Willock  family  is  of  Scotch  descent. 
Alexander  Willock  settled  in  Pittsburg 
in  T792,  and  kept  the  first  inn  opened  in  that  city.  In  1815  he  and 
his  family  removed  to  what  is  now  known  as  Willock  Station,  on 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at 
Willock  Station,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death  in  1892.  The  father  of  Curtis  M.  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  at  Willock  Station  in  1841,  and  is  now  proprietor  of  the 
Waverly  oil  works  of  Pittsburg.  Curtis  M.  Willock  was  graduated 
at  Princeton  university  in  1896,  and  from  Harvard  law  school  in 
1899,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Pittsburg,  March  24,  1900. 
He  is  a  member  of  all  courts,  stands  well  with  his  fellow  members 
of  the  bar,  and  controls  a  good  practice.  He  was  married  in  Pitts- 
burg, May  3,  1900,  to  Mary  C,  daughter  of  John  Stevenson,  Jr.,  of 
Sharon,  Pa.,  and  their  home  life  is  an  ideal  one.  Mr.  Willock  is 
secretary  of  the  Voters'  civic  league,  member  of  the  Third  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward. 


144  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


WILLIAM  SHERMAN  MAXEY, 
attorney-at-law,  with  offices  at  No.  1409 
Keystone  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  the 
son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Price)   Maxey, 


both   of   whom    were    natives   of  Wales. 


^^^^HHpii^  ^^^H  Thomas  Maxey  came  to  America  about 
^^^^^PT,  ^^^H  the  time  he  reached  his  majority.  For  a 
^^^^^^^^  ^^^^m  number  of  years  he  worked  as  a  coal- 
^^HHSlg  ^^^^^V  miner  in  the  vicinity  of  Carbondale  and 
^^T^^^^^^^B^^  in  Carbon  county,  Pa.,  but  for  the  last 
^'        ^^^^^^  forty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  resident 

^^^^^r  of    Susquehanna  county,  where  he    now 

lives  retired.  Ann  Price  came  with  her 
parents  to  America  when  she  was  seven  years  old,  and  lived  in 
Pennsylvania  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1895.  She 
was  the  mother  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  John,  Annie,  widow 
of  Z.  D.  Jenkins;  Margaret,  wife  of  C.  P.  Chamberlain;  Jennie, 
wife  of  W.  G.  Morgan;  Thomas  J.,  of  Homestead,  Pa. ;  William  S., 
and  Edwin  M.  Maxey.  William  S.  Maxey  was  born  in  Clifford 
township,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  26,  1868.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  the  Keystone  academy,  of 
Factoryville,  Pa.,  and,  in  1890,  he  was  one  of  a  large  class  that 
graduated  from  the  State  normal  school  at  Mansfield.  Soon  after 
this  he  was  duly  registered  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  F.  I.  Lott, 
of  Montrose,  Pa.  At  the  August  term  of  court,  in  1893,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  county.  He  immediately 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  old  preceptor,  and  practiced  in 
Montrose,  as  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Lott  &  Maxey,  until 
1899.  During  this  time  the  firm  were  the  solicitors  for  Susque- 
hanna county  for  five  years.  In  1899  Mr.  Maxey  retired  from 
active  practice.  In  1901  he  graduated  from  the  Southern  normal 
university,  Huntingdon,  Tenn.,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
laws,  and  in  September  of  that  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Allegheny  county.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  practicing  his 
profession  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  with  gratifying  results.  Among 
his  clients  is  the  Gilkinson  American  detective  bureau,  for  which 
he  is  the  general  counsel.  He  is  a  past  chancellor  of  Montrose 
lodge,  No.  473,  Knights  of  Pytliias;  a  member  now  of  South  Side 
lodge.  No.  158,  of  Pittsburg,  and  a  member  of  ^neas  conclave. 
Independent  Order  of  Heptasophs,  of  Montrose,  Pa.  Mr.  Maxey 
takes  an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  and  in  both  State  and 
national   campaigns  has  rendered   service   as  one  of  the  political 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  U5 

orators  in  behalf  of  the  republican  party  and  its  principles.  He 
was  married,  March  15,  1902,  in  New  York  city,  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Huson,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  affiliate  with  the  Baptist  church.  He 
lives  in  the  fourteenth  ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  His  brother, 
Edwin  Maxey,  the  j^oungest  of  the  family,  is  an  educator,  lawyer 
and  author  of  note.  He  is  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Missouri, 
Illinois,  Dakota  and  Pennsylvania;  has  been  dean  of  the  Southern 
normal  university,  Huntingdon,  Tenn.  ;  was  assistant  dean  of  the 
law  department  of  Wisconsin  university  in  1903,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  lecturer  in  the  Columbia  law  school  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
By  his  own  efforts  he  has  won  every  educational  title  which  can  be 
obtained  in  this  country,  has  been  a  contributor  to  a  number  of  the 
leading  periodicals,  and  is  the  author  of  a  book  entitled  "Some 
Questions  of  Larger  Politics,"  which  has  had  a  large  sale.  He 
was  recently  elected  as  one  of  the  instructors  on  corporation  and 
international  law  in  the  University  of  West  Virginia,  at  Morgan- 
town,  W.  Va. 

LAWRENCE  P.  MONAHAN,  attor- 
ney, at  No.  433  Fifth  Ave.,  Pittsburg,  is 
a  native  of  Greensburg,  Westmoreland 
county,  where  he  was  born  July  2,  1876. 
His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Gertrude 
(Brandt)  Monahan,  the  latter  having  died 
Feb.  18,  [882.  Mr.  Monahan's  primary 
education  was  obtained  in  private  schools 
and  at  Fordham  college.  New  York  city, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
1897,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and, 
in  1900,  the  degree  of  A.  M.  Fordham 
""  ~~^  college  had  a  military  department  under 

the  supervision  of  the  United  States  government.  Mr.  Monahan 
was  major  in  command  in  his  senior  year,  and  in  competitive 
examination  received  a  certificate  that  entitled  him  to  a  commis- 
sion in  time  of  war.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  late  Spanish  war,  Mr. 
Monahan  was,  in  accordance  with  the  certificate,  tendered  an 
appointment  as  lieutenant  in  the  regular  service.  He  decided  to 
take  up  the  study  of  law,  and  to  that  end  he  entered  the  Pittsburg 
law  school,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1900,  and  receiving  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  He  at  once  associated  himself  with  the  law 
firm  of  A.  M.  Brown  &  Sons,  and  having  been  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  all  the  courts  of  the  State,  he  entered  upon  what  has  proven 
i-io 


146  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

to  be  a  very  successful  professional  career.  He  is  a  member  of 
both  the  Allegheny  county  and  Westmoreland  county  associations, 
and  represents  several  large  corporations  as  their  solicitor.  Mr. 
Monahan's  practice  is  not  confined  to  any  particular  court,  and  this 
affords  him  an  extensive  acquaintance,  which  has  resulted  in  a 
large  clientage.  Mr.  Monahan  is  a  resident  of  the  twentieth  ward, 
where  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  promising  young  profes- 
sional men  in  the  city. 

THOMAS  M.  BENNER,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  leading  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  at  No.  427  Fifth  Ave.,  was  born  in 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  May  7,  1873,  son  of 
Thomas  M.  and  Mary  (Armstrong)  Ben- 
ner,  the  former  a  native  of  Tioga  county. 
Pa.,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  Alle- 
gheny county  and  for  many  years  was 
connected  with  the  iron  industry  of  Pitts- 
burg. During  the  Civil  war  the  elder 
Benner  served  in  the  iioth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and  later  was  prominently 
identified  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  being  a  member  of  Post  No.  88,  of  Allegheny  city,  until 
his  death.  May  28,  1898.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  the  United  States  when  an  infant, 
and  now  resides  in  New  York.  Thomas  M.  Benner  acquired  his 
literary  training  in  the  thorough  public  schools  of  Allegheny  city, 
attending  the  graded  and  high  schools;  then  matriculated  at  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1896,  receiving  the 
degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  Subsequently  he  completed  his  studies 
in  the  offices  of  R.  B.  Scandrett,  a  prominent  lawyer.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  September,  1897,  and 
since  has  practiced  successfully  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  courts  and  has  high  rank  as  an  attorney.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  the  Duquesne,  the 
University  and  the  Belleview  clubs,  and  is  a  resident  of  the  four- 
teenth ward.  Mr.  Benner  is  a  director  of  the  Duquesne  printing 
company  and  a  number  of  other  corporations,  and  is  well  known  in 
the  financial  world. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  147 

WALTER    MORRIS,    fire    insurance 
underwriter,  located  in  the  German  fire 
insurance    company    building.     No.    218 
Fourth  Ave.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Maria  (Thrower)  Morris,  both 
of  whom  were  members  of  old  English 
families,  some  of  the  Morris  antecedents 
being    lords    of    the    manor    in    Surrey- 
county,  where   Robert  was  born,  in  the 
town  of  Guilford,  Oct.  31,  1805.     In  1826 
he   emigrated    to    America,     located    at 
Pittsburg,  and   engaged   in    the   grocery 
business — first,  as  a  retail,  and  later  as  a 
wholesale  dealer.     His  business  prospered  from  the  start,  and  in  a 
few  years  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  largest  wholesale  grocery 
house  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.     For  some  time  he  conducted  the 
business  in  his  own  name,  and  later  under  the  firm  name  of  Morris 
&  Haworth.     In  1855  he  retired  from  business  and  lived  a  retired 
life  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Norwich,  England,  June  21, 
1866.     During  the  time  he  was  in  business  in  Pittsburg,  he  lived 
in  Allegheny  city,  where  he  was  well  and   favorably  known   and 
where  he  took  an   active  interest  in  all  public  affairs,  never  con- 
senting  to   hold   a   public   office.     He  was   a   director  in  several 
important   banking    institutions.       Maria    Thrower   was   born   in 
Saxlingham,  Norfolk  Co.,  England,    Sept.    17,   1810,    and  died  at 
Norwich,  Jan.  10,  1881.     Her  remains  rest  by  the  side  of  those  of 
her  husband  in  the  Norwich  cemetery.     Robert  and  Maria  Morris 
were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Frances,  born  in  Halesworth, 
now  the   wife   of   William    Symonds,    of   Ampleforth,   Yorkshire, 
England;  Maria,  born  in  Allegheny  city,  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
George  Bagshaw,  sheriff  of  Norwich,  England;  Walter,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Georgiana,  wife  of  Sydney  W.  Cook,  a  lace  manu- 
facturer of    London,   and   a   son   of   the    mayor   of  Southampton, 
England;   and  Robert   Riches,  born  in   Allegheny  city,  who  was 
traveling  auditor  for  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  company  for  many 
years,  holding  this  position  until  he  died,  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  at 
his  home  in  Crafton,  Pa.,  Sept.  3,  1889.     Walter  Morris  was  born 
in  London,  England,  May  6,  1846.     He  was  instructed  by  a  private 
tutor  at  Norfolk,  England,   and,  in    1862,  came   to  America.     In 
November  of  that   year   he   enlisted   in  Walling's   battery,   light 
artillery,  and  served  through  the  Civil  war,  participating  in  all  the 
principal  engagements  of  the  southwest.     He  was  mustered  out  at 


148  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.  17,  1865.  Upon  leaving  the  army,  he 
returned  to  Pittsburg  and  accepted  a  position  with  the  Pittsburg, 
Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  railroad  company.  He  remained  with  this 
company  until  1874,  when  he  went  into  the  offices  of  the  Allemania 
insurance  company  as  bookkeeper.  In  1876  he  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  Citizens'  insurance  company  of  Pittsburg,  and  retained 
this  position  until  1887,  when  he  resigned,  much  to  the  regret  of 
the  directors  of  the  company,  to  go  into  business  for  himself.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  a  general  fire  insurance  business,  representing 
the  Westchester,  Williamsburg  City  and  Greenwich  companies  of 
New  York;  the  Dutchess  insurance  company  of  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  Ben  Franklin  company  of  Allegheny,  Pa.  On 
May  9,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Cowling,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Emily  Cowling,  of  Allegheny  city.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  are  now  living;  Robert 
James,  born  April  3,  1869,  and  died  Aug.  17,  1898;  Jessie  Emily, 
born  Dec.  30,  187 1;  Walter  C,  born  Nov.  24,  1873,  and  is  now 
employed  in  his  father's  office;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  June  2,  1878, 
now  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Gray,  of  Ingram,  Pa.,  and  Charles  Weaver, 
born  April  20,  1885.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  Nativity,  at  Crafton,  Pa.  He  is  a  past 
commander  of  General  Hays  post.  No.  3,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  belongs  to  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  223,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  He  is  an  unassuming,  but  at  the  same  time  a  very  popu- 
lar citizen,  taking  an  active  interest  in  everything  that  tends  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  borough  of  Ingram,  where  he  resides. 

GEORGE  W.  HEPLINE,  superintend- 
ent of  Arsenal  station,  Pittsburg  post- 
office,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  the 
twenty-seventh  ward,  in  1874.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Cordelia  Hepline,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  his  father  being  a 
ship  carpenter.  He  attended  the  ward 
schools  when  a  boy,  left  school  at  the  age 
of  twelve,  but  afterwards  studied  for  a 
time  at  the  Pittsburg  business  college. 
In  1893  he  passed  the  civil  service  exami- 
nation, and  the  following  year  received 
an  appointment  in  the  Pittsburg  postoffice 
as  clerk  in  the  D.  P.  O.  department.  Here  he  remained  about 
eighteen  months,  then  was  transferred  to  Station  A,  now  known 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  149 

as  East  Liberty  station,  and  was  employed  as  clerk  at  this  station 
about  seven  months.  After  this  he  was  for  five  years  clerk  at 
Station  C,  or  Carson  station,  and  then,  in  December,  1902,  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position  as  a  deserved  reward  for  his  long 
and  faithful  service.  He  was  married,  on  Nov.  10,  1898,  to  Miss 
Olive  E.  Seibert,  daughter  of  Geo.  D.  and  Mary  Seibert,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.  They  have  had  only  one  child,  G.  Millard,  who  died, 
Jan.  20,  1901,  at  two  years  of  age.  Mr.  Hepline  is  a  member  of 
several  fraternal  orders,  and  he  and  his  wife  both  belong  to  the 
First  Methodist  Protestant  church.  South  Side,  Pittsburg.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican. 

THOMAS  DAVID  MacCLOSKEY,  of 
^^flfc^  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney  and 

^^^'^^  counselor-at-law,  with  offices  in  the  Bank 

Ti^  ^Hklv  ^^^  Savings  building,  was  born  in  Somer- 

*'**|f  ville,  Mass.,  Jan.  7,  1873,  son  of  Thomas 

^_^      ^  and  Abigail  (Warnock)  MacCloskey,  both 

.T^k  natives  of  the  Bay  State  and  now  residing 

A.^^^^^  at  Somerville.     Thomas  D.    MacCloskey 

_^^^^^  A  ^1^^       was  educated  in  the  elementary  branches 
^BBKKJU^^m         ^^   ^^^    grammar    and    high    schools    of 
^^^^^i^^^W  Somerville,   and   later   attended   Geneva 

^Wilj^pi^^  college,  where  he  was  graduated,  in  1893, 

with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  He 
then  matriculated  at  the  Harvard  law  school  and  was  graduated 
from  that  famous  institution,  in  1899,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor 
of  laws.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  supreme  court  of 
Massachusetts  in  the  fall  of  1899,  and  after  a  practice  of  a  few 
months  in  Boston  and  Somerville,  removed  to  Pittsburg,  where 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  September, 
1900:  Since  that  time  Mr.  MacCloskey  has  practiced  with  much 
success  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  of 
the  Allegheny  county  bar  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
McKinley  lodge,  No.  318,  of  Allegheny,  of  the  A.  F.  and  A  M., 
and  of  Ethel  lodge.  No.  314,  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Heptasophs.  Mr.  MacCloskey  is  a  leading  member  of  the  North 
Presbyterian  church  of  Allegheny  city  and  is  assistant  superintend- 
ent of  the  afternoon  Sunday-school  of  that  church.  He  resides  in 
the  second  ward  of  Allegheny  city  and  is  well  known  in  both  cities. 


150  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

JAMES  WILSON  DICKSON,  M.  D., 
one  of  the  distinguished  physicians  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Sewick- 
ley,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  lo,  1852. 
His  father,  Stephen  Dickson,  was  a 
prominent  contractor  and  builder  of 
Sewickley,  who  died  in  1855.  Dr.  Dick- 
son's mother  was  a  Miss  Annie  Porter, 
who  is  still  living  in  the  town  of  Sewick- 
ley. James  Wilson  Dickson  received  a 
good  education  in  the  Sewickley  acad- 
emy, and  Jefferson  college,  Cannonsburg, 
Pa.,  after  which  he  read  medicine  in  the 
office  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  John  Dickson,  for  two  years,  and  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  medical  college,  Philadelphia,  with  the  class  of 
1875.  Since  that  time  *he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Allegheny  city.  Ever  since  the  days  of  Hippocrates 
there  have  been  in  every  country  and  every  age  unselfish  persons 
who  stood  ready  to  make  sacrifices  for  suffering  humanity.  Such  a 
man  is  Dr.  James  W.  Dickson.  Thoroughly  in  love  with  his  call- 
ing and  imbued  with  the  knowledge  of  the  nobility  of  his  chosen 
profession,  he  has  never  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  appeals  of  the 
afflicted.  Nor  has  he  allowed  himself  to  fall  behind  in  the  march 
of  progress.  Although  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  has 
elapsed  since  he  received  his  diploma  as  a  physician,  from  one  of 
the  greatest  medical  colleges  in  the  country,  he  has  kept  himself 
fully  informed  with  regard  to  the  new  discoveries  in  the  science  of 
medicine  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  progressive  physicians 
of  western  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  member  of  both  the  county  and 
State  medical  associations  and  the  Physicians'  protective  associa- 
tion. He  served  with  distinction  as  the  city  bacteriologist  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  and  while  in  that  position  made  many  valuable 
suggestions  for  the  promotion  of  the  public  health.  Dr.  Dickson 
was  married,  in  June,  1898,  to  Miss  Sarah  Callahan,  an  estimable 
young  lady  of  Allegheny  city.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  public  welfare,  particularly  those  affect- 
ing the  fifth  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  where  he  resides.  He  has 
served  his  ward  ably  in  the  common  council,  and,  in  1903,  was  the 
republican  candidate  for  sheriff  of  the  county,  being  elected, 
Nov.  3,  1903,  by  1,768  majority. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


151 


ULYSSES  GRANT  MARKS,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  successful  attorney,  with 
offices  in  the  Bank  for  Savings  building, 
was  born  in  Beaver  county.  Pa,,  son  of 
\  the  late  James  and  Margaret  J.  Marks. 
■|;  Mr.  Marks  acquired  his  elementary  edu- 
•§  cational  training  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county  and  the  academy  of 
Bridgewater,  Pa.,  and  after  teaching  for 
two  years  in  his  native  county,  entered 
the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  he  attended  for  three  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  matriculated  at  West- 
minster college  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1891.  The  following  year  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  Columbia  university.  New  York  city,  where  he  took  a  three 
years'  course.  He  removed  to  Chicago,  and,  in  December,  1895, 
entered  the  law  office  of  Judson  F.  Goehing,  a  prominent  attorney 
of  that  city,  and,  in  May,  1896,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois. 
Mr.  Marks  at  once  began  the  practice  in  Chicago,  and  there  met 
with  much  success  for  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Pittsburg, 
in  1899,  and  entered  the  law  firm  of  Brown  &  Stewart.  In  June, 
1900,  Mr.  Marks  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county,  and 
has  since  practiced  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  now  has  a  fine  clientage 
and  stands  well  among  the  prominent  attorneys  of  the  city. 


CHARLES  W.  HAMILTON,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  successful  attorney-at-law, 
with  offices  in  the  Bakewell  building, 
was  born  at  McKeesport,  Pa.,  March  11, 
1873,  son  of  James  B.  and  Jennie  A. 
Hamilton,  both  natives  of  Allegheny 
county,  the  former  now  residing  in  Eliza- 
beth, where  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  prothonotary  for  a  three-year  term, 
beginning  Jan.  i,  1904.  Charles  W. 
Hamilton  was  educated  in  the  graded 
and  high  schools  of  Elizabeth,  and  later 
attended  the  Pittsburg  academy.  On 
leaving  school  he  began  as  an  accountant  in  the  office  of  the  recorder, 
and  subsequently  matriculated  at  the  Dickinson  law  school,  where 
he  was  graduated  on  June  7,  1897,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 


152  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

laws.  In  September,  1897,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Allegheny  county,  and  has  since  been  in  continuous  practice  in 
Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  enjoys  a  splendid 
clientele.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics  and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  served  for  six  years  as  a 
member  of  Company  I,  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard, 
and  when  the  call  for  volunteers  was  made,  he  enlisted,  on  April  27, 
1898,  as  a  member  of  Company  I,  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  infantry,  serving  with  the  regiment  until  Sept.  27,  1898, 
when  he  was  discharged. 

EDWARD  JAMES  SMAIL,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  distinguished  attorney,  with 
offices  in  the  Bakewell  building,  was  born 
in  the  borough  of  Greensburg,  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  24,  1859,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Mainhart)  Smail, 
both  born  and  reared  in  Hempfield  town- 
ship, Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  but  now 
residing  at  Braddock,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa. 
Mr.  Smail  acquired  his  rudimentary  edu- 
cational training  in  the  public  schools  of 
Johnstown,  at  the  Greensburg  academy 
and  under  private  tutors.  In  1880  he 
was  graduated  from  the  State  normal  school  at  California,  Pa.,  and 
began  to  read  law  in  the  offices  of  ex-Governor  Stone,  of  Pittsburg. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Jan.  6,  1883;  has  practiced  continu- 
ously since  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and 
of  the  Allegheny  county  bar  association.  Mr.  Smail  is  prominently 
identified  with  some  of  the  leading  fraternal  orders,  being  a  mem- 
ber and  past  master  of  Braddock's  Field  lodge,  No.  510,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  ;  member  of  Shiloh  chapter,  No.  257,  Royal  Arch  Masons; 
Tancred  commandery,  No.  48,  of  Knights  Templars;  Pennsylvania 
consistory,  and  Syria  temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Mr.  Smail  is 
also  exalted  ruler  of  Pittsburg  lodge,  No.  11,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  mem- 
ber of  the  Monongahela  council.  No.  122,  of  the  Junior  Order  of 
American  Mechanics;  the  Edgar  Thompson  council  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum;  the  Braddock  lodge.  No.  180,  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen;  the  Pittsburg  chamber  of  commerce;  the  Ameri- 
cus  republican  club;  the  Young  Men's  tariff  club,  and  the  Masonic 
country  club.  He  is  president  of  the  board  of  education  of  the 
borough  of  Braddock,  where  he  resides;  has  served  as  solicitor  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  153 

the  boroughs  of  Braddock  and  Rankin,  and  of  various  school  dis- 
tricts. He  is  president  and  solicitor  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Indiana  gas 
company;  a  stockholder  in  the  Union  National  bank  of  Braddock, 
and  one-fourth  owner  of  the  Braddock  land  company.  Mr.  Smail  was 
married  to  Ella  Dyer,  daughter  of  F.  D.  and  Eliza  A  Eshelman, 
of  the  second  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  descendants  of  the  pioneer 
Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  viz. :  Blanch 
Ella,  born  June  24,  1884,  and  died  Aug.  22,  1897,  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years;  Hazel  Inez,  born  Jan.  14,  1886,  and  a  graduate  of 
Linden  Hall  seminary;  Edward  James,  born  Dec.  22,  1888,  now  at 
Nazareth  Hall,  preparing  for  college,  and  Nellus  Urilda,  born  June 
20,  1900.  Mr.  Smail  is  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Chris- 
tian church  of  Braddock. 

JAMES  H.  THOMPSON,  M.  D.,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa  ,  a  prominent  specialist  on 
gynecology,  was  born  in  Emsworth,  Alle- 
gheny county,  July  30,  1859,  son  of  Henry 
Van  Thompson,  a  millwright  of  Ems- 
worth,  and  of  his  wife,  Jane  (Moore) 
Thompson.  Dr.  Thompson  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county  and 
the  Allegheny  college,  at  Meadville, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  a  classical 
course  in  1884,  receiving  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  arts,  and  one  year  later  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  was  given  him  by  his 
alma  mater.  Then  he  matriculated  at  the  Hahnemann  medical 
college,  of  Chicago,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1886.  Dr.  Thompson  was  resident  surgeon  of  the  Homoeopathic 
hospital,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  for  two  years,  and,  in  1888,  began  to 
practice  medicine  in  Pittsburg.  He  was  engaged  with  his  large 
general  practice  until  1894,  when  he  went  to  Europe  to  take  post- 
graduate courses  in  gynecology.  He  studied  under  Professor  Martin 
at  Berlin  for  six  months,  spent  eight  months  in  Vienna,  studied  six 
months  in  Paris  under  Professors  Pean  and  Pozzi,  and  at  Heidelberg 
under  Professor  Koenig.  After  two  years  spent  in  study  on  the  con- 
tinent, Dr.  Thompson  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  has  devoted  his 
entire  time  to  gynecology,  in  which  specialty  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, and  stands  among  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county.  He 
maintains  offices  at  Nos.  313  and  314  Smith  block,  and  resides  at  the 


154  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

corner  of  South  Negley  and  Walnut  streets,  East  End,  Pittsburg. 
Dr.  Thompson  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  and  the 
Pennsylvania  State  homoeopathic  medical  societies,  the  American 
institute  of  homoeopathy,  of  which  he  is  chairman  of  the  department 
of  gynecology,  and  of  the  East  End  homoeopathic  doctors'  club. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pittsburg  country  club,  the  republican 
party  and  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  served  on  the 
surgical  staff  of  the  Homoeopathic  hospital  since  1888,  and  is  one  of 
the  best-known  physicians  of  the  city.  The  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Thompson  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  seven  of  his 
brothers  were  surgeons  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States. 

JOHN  M.  WILSON,  M.  D.,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  prominent  physician,  was 
born  in  Dennison,  Ohio,  Aug.  14,  1872, 
son  of  Thomas  H.  and  Harriet  (McCul- 
loch)  Wilson,  his  father  being  a  prominent 
physician  of  Ohio,  who  has  practiced  in 
that  State  for  thirty-five  years  with  much 
success.  His  mother  was  a  native  of 
Harrison  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  1897. 
Dr.  Wilson's  maternal  ancestors  came  to 
America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  were  members  of  the  patriot  army 
during  the  struggle  for  independence. 
His  father  served  in  Company  H,  80th  Ohio  volunteers,  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  is  said  to  be  the  youngest  veteran  now  living  that 
served  through  the  entire  war,  he  having  enlisted  when  only  fifteen 
years  of  age.  Dr.  Wilson  was  educated  in  the  rudimentary 
branches  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Dennison,  graduating 
from  the  last-named  school  in  1889,  He  spent  two  years  at  Scio 
college,  later  matriculated  at  the  medical  department  of  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Pittsburg,  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  1896,  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  He  was  resi- 
dent physician  in  the  Pittsburg  city  hospital  for  two  years,  in  1898 
began  a  general  practice,  and  has  met  with  much  success  in  his 
professional  work.  Dr.  Wilson  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny 
county,  the  Pennsylvania  State  and  the  American  medical  associa- 
tions, the  West  Pennsylvania  medical  society  and  the  Pi  Beta  Phi 
medical  fraternity.  He  is  also  a  Knight  Templar,  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  and  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  is  city  physician  of  Pittsburg,  assistant  to  chair  of  orthopedic 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  155 

surgery  in  West  Pennsylvania  college,  and  medical  examiner  for 
the  Metropolitan,  the  New  England  mutual  and  the  State  life 
insurance  companies.  Dr.  Wilson  is  also  a  member  of  the  repub- 
lican party.  A  brother  of  his.  Dr.  R.  A.  Wilson,  was  appointed 
assistant  surgeon  in  the  United  States  army  in  1898,  and  has  made 
a  fine  record  in  that  capacity. 

WILLIAM     H.     LOGAN,     grocer    at 

■  ^    -  No.  221   Fifth  Ave.,  Carnegie,   was  born 

in  Shirland,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  16, 
1846.  His  father,  David  Logan,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1800,  and  died  in  1862, 
and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  (McDonnell) 
Logan,  born  in  1812,  died  in  1895.  David 
Logan  was  a  farmer  by  vocation,  but  was 
also  an  itinerant  minister  of  the  gospel 
and  an  authority  on  scriptural  subjects, 
often  taking  part  in  debates  on  religion. 
He  owned  a  farm  in  North  Fayette  town- 
ship, on  which  he  and  all  his  children 
were  born.  This  farm,  which  has  been  in  the  family  for  three- 
fourths  of  a  century,  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  David  M.  Logan. 
William  H.  Logan,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  five 
children.  Of  these,  John  A.,  a  twin  brother  of  William  H.,  died 
Aug.  29,  1886,  and  Hugh  L.,  a  general  merchant,  born  in  1852, 
died  on  Aug.  18,  1886;  George  is  a  farmer  in  Allegheny  county  and 
also  interested  in  oil,  and  David  M.  resides  on  the  old  home  farm. 
William  H.  Logan  attended  the  public  schools  and  supplemented 
his  education  at  Clinton  academy.  He  also  attended  lectures  in 
the  Physio-Eclectic  medical  college  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 
received  his  diploma  in  1878,  but  never  practiced  medicine,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  himself  to  mercantile  pursuits.  He  came  to 
Carnegie  from  Shirland  in  1884,  and  has  since  then  been  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  On  May  5,  1869,  Mr.  Logan 
was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  L.  Williams,  daughter  of  Ashley  and 
Elizabeth  (West)  Williams,  of  Henry  county,  Ky.  Her  father,  a 
carriage-maker  by  trade,  was  an  ardent  republican,  a  loyal  Union 
man,  and  though  not  enlisted  in  the  army,  volunteered  to  fight  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  which  occurred  near  his  home.  After  the 
war  he  was  employed  as  inspector  of  materials  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  government  wagons.  In  1888  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  at  which  all  the  living  children 


156  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

were  present.  Mr.  Williams  was  born  April  3,  1815,  and  died 
May  20,  1890;  his  wife,  born  April  8,  1817,  died  June  10,  1898. 
Of  eleven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams,  Mrs.  Logan 
and  two  others,  Mrs.  E.  S.  DeHoff  and  Frank  W.,  both  of  Indian- 
apolis, survive.  The  deceased  are:  Allen,  Thomas,  Alexander, 
James,  Webster,  George,  Martha  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan 
have  had  three  children:  Elizabeth,  a  graduate  of  the  music  depart- 
ment of  the  Pittsburg  female  college  of  the  class  of  1894,  has  been 
for  several  years  engaged  most  successfully  in  teaching  music. 
She  is  now  pursuing  her  studies  in  music  under  the  tutelage  of 
Prof.  A.  M.  Foerster,  an  instructor  and  composer,  of  Pittsburg. 
Ashley,  born  Feb.  21,  1875,  died  on  Aug.  3,  1879,  and  Joseph  J.  is 
a  mechanical  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Pan  Handle  railroad. 
Mr.  Logan  and  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Odd  Fellows  and  American  Mechanics,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Malta.  In  politics  he  has  ever  been  an  ardent  republi- 
can. Mr.  Logan  and  his  family  are  respected  people,  and  stand 
well  in  the  community  of  which  they  form  an  important  part. 

©ELMER  ARMSTRONG,  of  McKee's 
Rocks,  Pa.,  a  prominent  dealer  in  real 
estate,  was  born  in  Hibbardsville,  Athens 
Co.,  Ohio,  on  Dec.  21,  1878.  He  is  a  son 
of  Elza  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Hibbard)  Arm- 
strong, and  is  the  eldest  of  three  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  living  and,  besides 
himself,  are:  Charles  Crawford  and  Ruth, 
who  live  at  the  old  homestead  in  Athens 
county,  Ohio.  His  father  conducts  a  stock 
farm  of  640  acres,  which  has  been  in  the 
family  since  1798,  his  great-grandfather 
having  settled  there  at  that  time.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  Elmer  Armstrong,  and  his  paternal 
great-grandfather  was  Thomas  Armstrong,  who  settled  the  home- 
stead in  Athens  county.  His  father  is  now  actively  in  charge  of 
his  farm,  but  his  mother  died  on  Feb.  17,  1896.  Elmer  Armstrong 
was  educated  in  the  elementary  courses  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  completed  his  classical  training  at  the  Ohio 
university.  While  still  a  student  at  college,  he  became  interested 
with  his  father  in  the  management  of  their  stock  farm,  remained 
in  business  with  him  for  a  number  of  years,  and,  later,  went  into 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  157 

the  milling  business  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1899, 
Mr.  Armstrong  came  to  McKee's  Rocks,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  with  his  brother-in-law,  Frank  E.  Coe,  remaining 
with  that  concern  until  1901,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
the  store  and  began  the  real  estate  business  with  his  present  part- 
ner, C  A.  Carter.  He  was  married,  on  Oct.  2,  1900,  to  Mary  Elsie 
Coe,  of  Hibbardsville,  Ohio,  and  their  wedded  life  has  been  a 
halcyon  one.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  independent  in  his  political 
beliefs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church 
of  his  old  home  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  a  gentleman  of  recog- 
nized ability,  and  stands  high  in  the  business  and  social  circles  of 
the  home  of  his  adoption. 

FRANK  J.  SEIFRIED,  a  prominent 
wholesale  liquor  dealer  at  Carnegie,  was 
born  in  Austria,  Sept.  3,  1867.  His  par- 
ents, Frank  and  Amelia  (Gaidost)  Sei- 
fried,  came  to  America  in  1882,  and  set- 
tled near  Beach  Cliff,  Allegheny  county, 
where  they  still  reside.  Mr.  Seifried 
keeps  the  general  store  at  Cliff  Mine. 
Mr.  Seifried  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
German  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Car- 
negie. Of  their  three  living  children, 
F.  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
oldest;  Steven  K.  is  interested  in  mining 
machinery,  and  Mary  is  postmistress.  F.  J.  Seifried  was  educated 
in  Austria,  and  on  coming  to  America  attended  night  school,  work- 
ing during  the  day  in  his  father's  store.  In  1890  he  began  mer- 
cantile pursuits  for  himself,  opening  a  small  store  in  Carnegie. 
Afterwards  he  also  ran  a  store  for  a  short  time  at  Bower  Hill,  and 
another  at  Glendale,  and  still  owns  the  store  buildings  he  occupied 
in  those  places.  The  store  in  Bower  Hill  he  sold  to  his  brother, 
Steven  K.  Seifried,  and,  in  1891,  engaged  with  John  Roach  in  the 
wholesale  liquor  business.  He  has  since  bought  out  his  partner, 
and  is  now  sole  proprietor  of  a  large  and  flourishing  liquor  house. 
Mr.  Seifried  was  postmaster  at  Cliff  Mine  from  1889  to  1895,  and, 
on  his  moving  away,  his  sister  has  filled  the  position  most  satisfac- 
torily since.  In  1893  he  was  treasurer  of  a  building  and  loan  asso- 
ciation at  Bower  Hill,  which  was  dissolved  after  a  short  time. 
June  6,  1895,  Mr.  Seifried  married  Miss  Rosa  Kawasky,  a  native  ot 
Allegheny  county,  daughter  of  Frank   and   Katherine  (Holeman) 


158  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Kawasky,  both  natives  of  Germany,  and  both  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Seifried  have  had  four  children.  Herbert  died  when 
seven  months  old,  Nov.  19,  1899.  The  others  are:  Lawrence  F., 
Eugene  M.  and  Margaret  Rose.  Mr.  Seifried  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  German  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Carnegie.  In 
politics  Mr.  Seifried  has  always  been  an  ardent  republican,  as  is 
his  father  also.  He  is  a  progressive,  industrious  business  man, 
and  his  dealings  are  all  as  honorable  as  they  are  profitable. 

WILLIAM  M.  SCOTT,  hardware  mer- 
chant at  No.  214  Main  St.,  Carnegie,  was 
born  in  Allegheny  county,  June  17,  1853. 
His  parents,  Thomas  and  Lucinda  (Snod- 
grass)  Scott,  are  both  dead.  Mrs.  Scott, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  John  Snodgrass, 
died  July  4,  1861.  Her  husband  died 
Aug.  II,  1902,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years.  Thomas  Scott  came  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  when  about  sixteen 
years  old,  and  settled  in  Allegheny 
county,  where  he  was  for  many  years  a 
well-known  farmer  and  prominent  old 
settler.  Of  ten  children  of  Thomas  and  Lucinda  Scott,  five  died 
when  young,  and  those  living  are:  John,  a  shipper  in  a  wholesale 
grocery  house  in  Pittsburg;  Sarah,  widow  of  S.  B.  McGarvy,  and 
living  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  F.  V.  Blair,  at  Camden,  Pa. ; 
Alexander  M.,  a  wholesale  grocer,  living  in  Braddock;  William 
M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Charles 
C.  Robinson  and  resides  at  No.  215  Lehigh  Ave.,  Pittsburg. 
William  M.  Scott  received  a  common-school  education  and  began 
his  business  career,  at  first  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Robinson, 
Scott  &  Co.,  dealers  in  general  merchandise,  continuing  at  this  for 
three  years.  His  next  venture  was  in  the  same  business  in  a  com- 
pany store  at  Coal  Bluff,  Washington  county,  under  the  firm  name 
of  W.  M.  Scott  &  Co.  After  seven  years  in  the  store  at  Coal  Bluff, 
Mr.  Scott  did  not  embark  in  business  for  a  few  years,  and,  later 
started,  at  Federal,  Allegheny  county,  a  general  store  under  the 
name  of  the  Federal  store  company,  and  remained  as  sole  owner 
and  manager  of  this  business  for  four  years.  In  February,  1900, 
he  came  to  Carnegie  and  opened  his  present  store,  where  he  carries 
a  full  line  of  hardware,  stoves,  pumps,  paints  and  oils,  and  general 
household  furnishings,  and  is  doing  a  steadily  increasing  business. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  159 

On  Oct.  14,  1885,  Mr.  Scott  married  Miss  Hattie  Morrison,  of 
Washington,  Pa.,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Jane  Morrison,  both 
of  whom  are  now  living  in  Nottingham  township,  Washington 
county.  Mrs.  Scott  had  one  sister,  Anna  Lois,  now  at  home,  and 
another,  Henrietta,  who  married  C.  A.  Fry,  a  dry-goods  merchant 
of  Brownsville,  Pa.  Three  children  were  born  to  William  M.  Scott 
and  wife:  Sarah  B.,  James  M.  and  Lois  G.  Mrs.  Scott  died  July  25, 
1895.  She  was  born  June  14,  1863.  Mr.  Scott  was  married  to 
Mary  E.  Cowen,  of  Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  Jan.  20,  1903,  and  now  resides 
at  No.  61  Lincoln  Ave.,  Carnegie,  Pa.  Mr.  Scott  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  an  elder  of  that  church. 

JOHN  HENRY   (deceased),  iron  and 
steel    manufacturer,    was    born    at    Port 

eifeUll  Talbot,   Glamorganshire,  Wales,  in   1842. 

I  His  parents,  Evan  and  Elizabeth  Henry, 

1?k  C  were  well  and  favorably  known  through- 

out the  community.  The  father,  a  cop- 
per roller  by  trade,  filled  the  position  of 
precentor  at  the  Dyffryn  church  for 
thirty  years,  with  constant  faithfulness 
and  great  credit.  The  late  John  Henry 
was  the  eldest  of  six  children.  Of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  David,  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  are  dead,  and  Llewellyn  and 
William  are  living  in  Wales.  From  early  youth,  John  Henry  was 
remarkable  for  his  good  habits,  straightforwardness  and  earnest 
ambition.  He  loved  his  home  and  native  land,  but  America 
offered  him  a  broader  field  and  more  advantageous  surroundings, 
and  in  1866,  accompanied  by  his  life-long  friend,  William  Hughes, 
he  came  to  Pittsburg.  In  America  he  met  many  ups  and  downs, 
but  profited  by  his  reverses,  and  in  the  end  succeeded  better  than 
he  had  hoped.  At  the  Frankstown  rolling  mill,  owned  by  the  late 
Grey  Brothers,  of  Soho,  he  went  through  the  lower  grades  of  his 
trade  patiently,  but  persistently,  and  in  1869  he  was  given  charge 
of  a  sheet  mill  at  Apollo,  Armstrong  county,  where  he  worked  four 
years,  giving  the  best  satisfaction  as  a  roller  and  mechanic,  and 
laying  the  foundation  of  an  extensive  fortune  and  a  brilliant 
future.  In  1873  he  received  the  appointment  of  manager  of  the 
Ironton  steel  works,  Ironton,  Ohio,  and  in  1877  was  engaged  by  the 
Chisolms,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  manufacture  sheet  steel,  being  one 
of  the  first  in  this  country  to  make  the  production  of  that  article  a 


160  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

success.  In  1879  he  returned  to  Apollo  and  took  up  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  mill  where  he  had  made  his  first  start  as  a  roller, 
and  soon  the  concern  was  in  a  flourishing  condition,  turning  out 
superior  brands  of  iron  and  steel  sheet,  which  commanded  an  envi- 
able market.  In  1883,  with  Messrs.  Kirkpatrick  and  Carter  as 
partners,  he  erected  the  Chartiers  iron  and  steel  works,  and  was  its 
general  manager  from  the  start.  The  success  of  this  undertaking 
was  phenomenal  from  the  first;  the  iron  and  steel  sheet  turned  out 
was  as  near  in  quality  to  the  Russian  iron  sheet  as  any  brand  in 
the  American  market,  and  readily  commanded  the  highest  price. 
In  1899  the  mill  was  sold  to  the  steel  trust,  and  later  on,  with  other 
mills  of  the  trust,  was  absorbed  by  the  United  States  steel  corpora- 
tion;  but  with  both  companies  Mr.  Henry  was  retained  as  manager. 
In  1 90 1,  during  the  iron  workers'  strike,  when  the  combine  ordered 
the  Chartiers  mill  to  be  dismantled,  he  strained  every  effort  to 
prevent  it,  but  in  vain,  and  after  the  dismantling  he  tendered  his 
resignation.  The  higher  officials  refused  to  accept  it,  and  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  filled  the  position  of  inspector,  making  trips 
occasionally  to  the  various  mills  of  the  company,  in  an  advisory 
capacity.  Mr.  Henry  was  killed,  Aug.  16,  1902,  by  falling  between 
the  train  and  the  platform  at  the  Fourth  avenue  depot,  Pittsburg, 
.while  en  route  for  Alma,  Mich.,  to  spend  a  month  at  the  sanitarium 
at  that  place.  Mr.  Henry  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  intensely 
active,  prompted  b)'  lofty  ambitions,  and  endowed  with  unconquer- 
able courage.  Besides  being  a  successful  manufacturer,  he  was  a 
gifted  man  of  affairs,  and  endowed  with  the  business  instinct  of  a 
financier.  He  was  a  heavy  stockholder  in  various  enterprises, 
among  them  the  First  National  bank  of  Carnegie,  and  the  Carnegie 
trust  company,  holding  the  office  of  director  in  both  institutions. 
In  1892  Mr.  Henry  was  married  to  Jennie  Pettigrew,  whose  par- 
ents, John  and  Jane  (Hines)  Pettigrew,  natives  respectively  of 
Scotland  and  England,  were  married  in  Scotland,  and  on  coming 
to  the  United  States,  in  1862,  settled  at  Cambridge,  Ohio.  Here, 
on  Feb.  15,  1872,  the  father,  when  about  sixty  years  old,  was 
instantly  killed  by  the  falling  of  earth  in  an  embankment.  His 
wife,  now  seventy-five  years  old,  makes  her  home  with  Mrs. 
Henry.  Mrs.  Henry  was  the  youngest  of  nine  children.  Only  one 
other  survives,  Mrs.  William  Noble,  now  a  widow,  who  resides  in 
Cambridge,  Ohio,  in  the  old  home- place  where  her  family  settled 
in  1852.  Besides  the  widow,  Mrs.  Henry,  four  children  mourn 
the  loss  of  an  affectionate  father:  Gwendoline,  John,  William  and 
Elizabeth. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  161 

JOHN  JOSEPH  BULLION,  pastor  of 
St.  Mary  Magdalene  Catholic  church  at 
Homestead,  was  born  in  Sharpsburg, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1856,  son  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Ruttinger)  Bullion, 
natives  of  Bavaria,  who  came  to  America 
in  1852  and  located  in  Sharpsburg.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  Bullion  had  eight  children, 
Agnes,  John  J.,  Mary,  Michael,  Joseph, 
Mina  (Mrs.  Joseph  Jacobs),  Charles  and 
Annie  (deceased).  Father  Bullion  was 
educated  at  St.  Michael's  seminary  at 
Glen  wood.  Pa.,  and  at  the  Seminary  of  St. 
Sulpice  at  Montreal,  Canada.  In  1878  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood  by  Bishop  Fabre,  of  Montreal.  His  first  mission  was  at 
Dudley,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  went  in  January,  1879,  and 
remained  a  year  and  a  half  as  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Immac- 
ulate Conception.  He  was  transferred  as  assistant  at  St.  Peter's 
church,  Allegheny,  serving  in  that  capacity  nearly  a  year,  and,  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  was  assigned  to  Homestead  as  pastor  of  St. 
Mary  Magdalene  parish.  At  that  time  church  services  were  held 
in  a  hall  on  Sixth  avenue,  there  being  no  church  building,  but  in  a 
short  time  a  church  was  erected  on  Tenth  avenue  at  a  cost  of  about 
$4,000.  At  this  time  the  congregation  numbered  about  fifty  fam- 
ilies, but  the  membership  increased  so  rapidly  that  better  accom- 
modations were  needed,  and,  in  1888,  a  two-story  church  and 
parochial  school  building  was  erected,  which  cost  $10,000.  This 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  Dec.  5,  1890,  and,  in  1891,  a  fine, 
four-story  brick  building  for  school  purposes  was  erected  on  its  site 
at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  The  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  was 
laid  Oct.  20,  1895,  the  ceremonies  being  under  the  direction  of 
Bishop  Phelan,  bishop  of  the  diocese,  and  the  church  was  dedi- 
cated on  December  13th  of  the  next.  year.  This  church,  which 
stands  at  the  corner  of  Tenth  avenue  and  Amity  street,  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $80,000,  and  is  the  finest  church,  outside  of  Pittsburg, 
in  the  diocese.  It  has  a  seating  capacity  of  1,200.  Its  erection 
was  mainly  due  to  the  efforts  of  Father  Bullion,  who  has  built  up 
the  church  until  it  now  has  a  membership  of  2,500,  comprising 
some  500  families.  The  parochial  school  in  connection  has  an 
enrollment  of  about  500.  Father  Bullion  is  a  member  and  director 
of  the  C.  M.  B.  A.  and  a  member  of  several  other  societies.  He 
is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Carnegie  library  at  Homestead, 
i-ii 


162  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

NATHANIEL     MONTGOMERY,     a 
^rfPBBlKy  prominent   farmer  of  Wilkins    township, 

mm  and  for  nineteen  years  elder  in  the  Beu- 

£.-      wi     ..^ii**"^  ^'^^    Presbyterian    church,    was    born    in 

ft      *.  ^  Wilkins    township,    Allegheny    Co.,   Pa., 

^^'  *        ^m  June    23,    1843.      His    father,    Nathaniel 

Montgomery,  born  Feb.  8,  181 6,  was  by 
vocation  a  farmer,  and  a  member  of 
Beulah  church.  His  wife  was  Mary 
(McCully)  Montgomery.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his 
life.  He  has  long  been  a  prominent  man 
in  his  community,  where  he  has  served  as  school  director.  In  1884 
he  married  Mary  F.  Pitt,  now  deceased.  On  May  22,  1895,  Mr. 
Montgomery  took  as  his  second  wife,  Marion,  daughter  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  Peterson,  residents  of  Allegheny  county,  though  of 
Scotch  descent.  Mr.  Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Scotland, 
March  15,  1826,  was  for  many  years  superintendent  in  the  New- 
town coal  mines,  and  opened  up  mines  Nos.  2,  3  and  4.  Mrs. 
Montgomery  is-  the  third  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  She  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Beulah  church,  which  is  the  oldest  church  in  the 
county. 

LOUIS  ZINSSER,  of  Millvale,  Pa., 
manager  of  the  American  baking  com- 
pany, was  born  in  Germany,  Sept.  13, 
1859,  son  of  Christian  and  Eliza  (Michael) 
Zinsser,  his  father  now  living  in  Germany 
and  a  prosperous  baker.  Mr.  Zinsser 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  then 
spent  two  years  at  a  soldiers'  school.  On 
leaving,  he  learned  the  baking  business 
under  his  father,  and  for  two  years  was 
thus  engaged.  The  next  three  years  of 
his  life  were  spent  in  the  German  army, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  came  to  America,  settled 
in  Pittsburg,  and  for  two  years  was  in  the  bakery  of  Adolph 
Zinsser.  He  went  with  Marvin  &  Co.,  of  Pittsburg,  and  was 
with  them  for  six  years;  in  1891  he  started  a  bakery  on  his  own 
account  on  Troy  Hill,  where  he   prospered  until   1900,   when  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  163 

removed  to  Millvale,  and  there  incorporated  a  business  under  the 
name  of  the  American  bakinof  company,  with  himself  as  president 
and  manager.  This  venture  has  been  a  decided  success,  and  they 
have  a  large  and  profitable  patronage.  He  was  married,  in  1885, 
to  Emma  Dotzenroth,  and  they  have  two  children,  Matilda  A.  and 
Gezena  E.  Mr.  Zinsser  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  the  German  military  shrine  and  the  republican  party.  He 
has  made  three  trips  to  Europe  since  coming  to  America,  and  is 
well  posted  on  European  affairs.  Mr.  Zinsser  is  a  safe  and  con- 
servative business  man,  and  possesses  the  confidence  of  the  entire 
community. 

DAVID  L.  DAVIS,  roller  at  the  Zug 
&  Co.  (limited),  rolling  mill,  Pittsburg, 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
Scott  township,  and  secretary  of  the 
school  board.  He  was  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.,  Nov.  5,  1865,  a  son  of  David 
and  Tamar  (Parry)  Davis,  natives  of 
Monmouthshire,  Wales.  The  father  was 
a  mill  worker  in  Wales,  and  on  coming  to 
America,  in  1857,  continued  at  the  same 
work  in  this  country,  being  employed 
most  of  the  time  in  Pittsburg.  He  was 
a  heater,  and  worked  for  twenty-four 
years  for  Dilworth,  Porter  &  Co.  He  retired  from  active  life  at 
the  age  of  sixty,  and  died  sixteen  years  later,  Feb.  4,  1900,  and  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  seventy.  May  9,  1899.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  were 
residents  of  Scott  township  for  thirty-six  years,  were  widely 
respected  people,  and  influential  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
They  had  eleven  children,  as  follows:  William,  a  heater,  residing 
in  Carnegie;  Margaret,  afterwards  Mrs.  John  C.  McGrew,  who 
died  in  1893  when  forty  years  old;  John,  who  died  when  four  years 
old ;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Richards,  of  Craf ton,  Pa.  ;  Mary,  now 
the  wife  of  George  Bradley,  of  Pittsburg;  Martha,  now  Mrs. 
William  Lee,  of  Sutton,  W.  Va. ;  Lizzie;  David  L.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Jennie,  a  teacher  in  Pittsburg;  Birdie,  who  died  when 
two  years  old,  and  Harry,  a  grocer,  of  Scott  township.  D.  L. 
Davis  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  after 
completing  his  education  began  to  work  in  the  miWs,  continuing  to 
be  a  sheet  iron  worker  ever  since.  He  was  first  employed  as  a 
doubler,  then  as  a  rougher,  and  has  for  the  past  eleven  years  been 


164  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

engaged  as  a  boss  roller.  He  has  always  been  a  faithful  and 
efficient  workman,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  employers. 
On  March  25,  1899,  Mr.  Davis  was  married  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Jean  Chadwick,  daughter  of  James  and  Permelia  (Saunders) 
Chadwick,  of  Washington  county,  where  James  Chadwick  was  a 
prominent  farmer  and  an  elder  in  the  Prosperity  Presbyterian 
church.  He  died  when  sixty-seven  years  old,  Dec.  24,  1896,  and 
his  wife  died  Jan.  28,  1888,  in  her  fifty-eighth  year.  Mrs.  Davis  is 
the  youngest  of  eight  living  children.  The  others  are:  Steven  S., 
a  hotel  keeper  of  Culver,  Ind.  ;  Mrs.  Orlando  Baglin,  of  East  Liver- 
pool, Ohio;  W.  W.,  of  Sunset,  Pa.;  John  H.,  state's  attorney  at 
Tuscola,  111.  ;  A.  Lincoln,  a  gardener,  of  Washington,  Pa.  ;  Isaac  N., 
a  farmer,  of  Prosperity,  Pa.,  and  Mrs.  R.  B.  Gilson,  of  New  Mata- 
moras,  Ohio.  One  child,  James  M.,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Davis 
is  vice-president  of  the  Domestic  land  company.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  term  as  member  of  the  school  board,  to  which  he 
was  elected  in  1894.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  being  a  member  of  Centennial  lodge.  No.  544;  Cyrus 
chapter.  No.  280,  of  Carnegie,  and  Chartiers  commandery.  No.  78, 
Knights  Templars.  He  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  the  J.  O.  U.  A.  M.  In  politics  he  is  an 
ardent  republican. 

STEWARD  LE  ROY  McCURDY, 
M.  D. ,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  leading 
physician  and  specialist  in  orthopedy, 
was  born  in  Bowenstown,  Ohio,  July  15, 
1859,  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  A.  (Bowen) 
McCurdy.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Dennison,  Ohio,  and  has 
taken  a  number  of  special  courses.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  Columbus  med- 
ical college  in  1881 ;  attended  a  full  course 
at  the  New  York  post-graduate  college 
and  hospital,  and  received  the  degree  of 
master  of  arts  from  Scio  college  in  1894. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Ohio  medical  university  during  1887-93, 
and  was  professor  of  orthopedic  surgery  at  that  institution  from 
1887  to  1891,  inclusive.  He  is  now  professor  of  anatomy  and  sur- 
gery, trustee  and  secretary  of  the  dental  department  of  the  Western 
University  of  Pennsylvania  at  Pittsburg,  and  professor  of  orthopedy 
in  the  medical  department  of  that  college.     Dr.  McCurdy  is  surgeon 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  165 

for  the  P,  C.  C.  &  St.  L.  and  the  Pennsylvania  railroads,  and  is 
president  and  member  of  the  association  of  surgeons  of  the 
Pennsylvania  system  of  railroads.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can orthopedic  association,  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State,  the 
Ohio  State  and  the  American  medical  associations.  Dr.  McCurdy 
has  frequently  contributed  articles  on  orthopedy  to  the  medical 
journals,  is  the  author  of  a  manual  on  orthopedic  surgery  and  a 
text- book  on  "Oral  Surgery,  "the  latter  being  a  treatise  on  the 
application  of  general  medicine  and  surgery  to  dentistry.  Dr. 
McCurdy  was  married,  in  1887,  to  Susan  Riggs,  of  Dennison,  Ohio. 
Dr.  McCurdy  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  of  the  latest  advancements 
of  his  specialty,  and  has  spent  several  winters  in  New  York  city 
attending  post-graduate  courses  in  orthopedic  surgery. 

HARRY  J.  SEIBEL,  contractor  and 
builder  at  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny county.  Pa.,  Feb.  18,  1872.  His 
parents,  Andrew  and  Mary  A.  (Seibel) 
Seibel,  were  born  in  Germany,  married 
in  Germany  in  1869,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1872,  locating  at  first  in  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  Seibel  had  been  a  gardener  in  Ger- 
many, and  has  followed  this  vocation 
since  coming  to  America.  In  1873  he 
came  to  East  Carnegie,  and  lived  there 
twelve  years,  and  then  bought  a  farm  of 
his  own  of  fifty-four  acres,  on  which  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  now  sixty-three  years  old,  and  his  wife 
fifty-four.  They  are  members  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church, 
Carnegie.  Harry  J.  Seibel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest 
of  thirteen  children,  all  born  in  Allegheny  county.  Of  these,  six 
died  in  early  life,  and  Charles  A.,  born  Feb.  19,  1885,  died  March 
12,  1894.  Of  those  now  living,  Rosa  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Britner, 
of  Glendale,  and  has  four  children,  Tony,  Florence  A.,  Tillie  M. 
and  Matilda;  Mary  A.  married  Fred  Barthon,  and  lives  on  Hill 
street,  Glendale;  Anna  J.  is  a  saleswoman;  August  and  Andres  H. 
are  assisting  their  father  on  the  farm.  Harry  J.  Seibel  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Carnegie  when  a  boy,  and  worked  for  his 
father.  Being  naturally  handy  with  tools,  he  determined  to  learn 
the  carpenters'  trade,  and  has  been  unusually  successful  in  his 
chosen  vocation.  After  learning  his  trade,  he  also  spent  one  year 
as  a  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  live-stock.     On  Aug.  24,  1898,  he  was 


166  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

wedded  to  Miss  Carrie  Weber,  and  after  marriag-e  worked  two  years 
at  his  trade,  and  then  spent  over  two  years  as  a  hotel  keeper.  It 
was  while  in  that  business  that  his  wife  died,  June  12,  1901.  She 
was  born  Sept.  9,  1873.  Mrs.  Seibel  was  the  daughter  of  Phias  and 
Mary  (Cutner)  Weber,  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to  this 
country  and  were  married  in  Pittsburg.  Mrs.  Seibel  was  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church,  was  a  woman  of  many  friends, 
and  her  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  all  who  knew  her.  Mr.  Seibel 
has  one  child  living,  Mary  Anna.  His  son,  Joseph  H.,  born 
March  3,  1901,  died  on  June  7th  of  that  year.  Mr.  Seibel  has  been 
unusually  successful  in  his  business,  and  has  amassed  a  consider- 
able fortune.  He  is  at  present  building  fifteen  houses  of  his  own 
on  Bower  hill,  and  fourteen  for  other  people.  He  owns  building 
lots  in  Idaville,  Carnegie,  Chartiers  township,  Scott  township. 
Collier  township,  and  Upper  St.  Clair  and  Lower  St.  Clair  town- 
ships. He  has  been  quite  active  in  public  life,  and  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  electors  of  Scott  township  one  year.  He 
holds  stock  in  the  Domestic  land  company,  of  Carnegie,  and  the 
Chartiers  valley  building  company.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
Joseph's  Catholic  church. 

J.  K.  M.  PERRINE,  M.  D.,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  well-known  physician  and 
specialist  on  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat,  was  born  in  Idlewood, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  20,  1870,  son  of 
T.  C.  and  Sarah  Josephine  (Morange) 
Perrine,  his  father  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Eli  Edmundson  &  Son, 
dealers  in  hardwood  furniture  and 
upholstering,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Edmundson  &  Perrine,  engaged 
in  the  same  business.  The  elder  Perrine 
is  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  and  his 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  cotmty.  Dr.  Perrine's 
maternal  great-grandfather,  John  Morange,  was  the  first  steel  nail 
manufacturer  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  and  the  grand- 
father of  Dr.  Perrine,  James  K  Morange.  was  a  prominent  oil- 
broker  of  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Perrine  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Pittsburg,  the  Willard  preparatory  school  and  the  Western  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  He  entered  the  Hahnemann  medical  college, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  in  1893       He  came  to  Pittsburg 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  167 

as  resident  physician  of  the  Homoeopathic  hospital  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  went  to  Philadelphia  and  attended  a  special  course  in  the 
Polyclinic  college  for  graduates  of  medicine.  On  leaving  this 
school,  Dr.  Perrine  went  to  Germany,  where  he  took  special  courses 
in  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  at  Gottingen,  Hei- 
delberg and  Berlin,  and  spent  two  years  on  the  continent  in  studying 
this  specialty.  In  1895  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  since  has 
devoted  his  attention  to  practicing  his  specialty,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  much  success,  and  stands  well  among  the  physicians  of 
Pittsburg.  He  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Allegheny 
county  homoeopathic  medical  society,  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  medical  association,  the  American  institute  of  homoeopathy, 
the  East  End  homoeopathic  doctors'  club,  and  is  a  member  of 
ophthalmological  and  dispensary  staffs  of  the  Homoeopathic  hos- 
pital. 

WILLIAM  THOMAS  TREDWAY, 
of  Coraopolis,  Pa.,  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Warsaw,  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio,  on 
Feb.  12,  1862,  and  is  the  son  of  Crispen 
and  Melvina  (James)  Tredway.  His 
parents  had  six  children,  viz. :  Clara 
Victoria  Sharpies,  William  Thomas, 
Joseph  Fleming,  Sarah  Olive  Elder, 
Garrett  Emmett  and  Cora  Iva  Barrett. 
His  father  was  a  successful  farmer,  and 
his  paternal  ancestors  came  originally 
from  England.  There  were  three 
brothers  that  came  to  America;  one  went  to  Maryland,  another  to 
New  York,  and  the  third  to  some  point  in  the  west.  The  grand- 
father of  William  Thomas  descended  from  the  branch  that  settled 
in  Hartford  county,  Md.,  and  his  great-grandfather,  Crispen 
Tredway,  settled  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  in  1770.  His  maternal 
ancestors  were  of  German  descent,  his  great-grandfather,  Elias 
James,  taking  up  a  tract  of  land,  under  the  congressional  act,  in 
Bedford  township,  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Tredway  secured  his 
elementary  education  in  the  Donley  school,  of  Bedford  township, 
Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio,  which  he  attended  until  his  seventeenth  year, 
and  then  went  for  two  terms  to  the  West  Bedford  public  school. 
There  he  received  a  certificate  to  teach  in  the  Ohio  public  schools, 
and  taught  for  one   year  at  Brush   college,  near  what   is  now  the 


168  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

postoffice  of  Tunnel  Hill,  Ohio.  At  the  close  of  his  school,  in  the 
spring-  of  1881,  he  attended  a  preparatory  course  at  the  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan  university,  and  later  matriculated  at  the  Jefferson  academy, 
of  Cannonsburg,  Pa.  In  the  fall  of  1883  Mr.  Tredway  entered 
Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  going  into  the  sophomore  class, 
and  was  graduated  from  that  famous  institution  on  June  24,  1886. 
During  his  preparatory  course  he  was  a  member  of  the  Philo 
society,  and  at  college  of  the  Philo  and  Union  societies.  He  was 
business  manager  of  the  Washington-Jeffersonian,  the  college 
paper,  for  two  years,  and  during  that  time  the  paper  was  cleared 
of  debt  for  the  first  time  in  fifteen  years.  He  was  also  business 
manager  of  the  Pandora,  the  college  annual,  the  first  number  of 
which  was  published  by  his  class  in  1884,  while  a  sophomore.  He 
was  also  elected  poet  of  his  class,  and  delivered  an  honorary  ora- 
tion at  the  graduating  exercises.  On  leaving  school,  he  became  a 
law  student  with  the  firm  of  Weir  &  Garrison,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Dec.  22,  1888.  He  remained  with 
that  firm  until  1892,  when  he  became  associated  with  Stone  & 
Potter,  and  remained  with  them  until  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, William  A.  Stone  becoming  governor  of  the  State,  and 
W.  P.  Potter  being  appointed  to  a  seat  on  the  supreme  bench  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  still  associated  with  the  firm  of  Stone  & 
Stone.  During  this  entire  time  Mr.  Tredway 's  offices  have  been 
in  the  Bakewell  building,  of  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Tredway  makes  a 
specialty  of  corporation  and  municipal  corporation  law,  and  stands 
high  at  the  bar  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  married,  on  March  14,  1894, 
to  Cora  Alice,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fawcett  Watson,  a  highly 
respected  citizen  and  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Coraopolis 
borough,  and  they  have  two  children,  Jean  Watson  and  William 
Thomas,  Jr.  Mr.  Tredway  has  been  solicitor  for  the  borough  of 
Coraopolis  since  1891,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  and  is 
now  discharging  the  duties  of  that  position.  He  organized  the 
Pittsburg,  Neville  Island  &  Coraopolis  railroad,  and  represented  it 
until  it  was  completed  and  merged  into  the  West  End  company. 
He  also  organized  the  Coraopolis  National  bank,  the  Ohio  Valley 
trust  company  and  the  Valley  trust  company  of  the  East  End, 
Pittsburg,  now  the  East  End  savings  and  trust  company,  all  of 
which  corporations  he  represents.  While  at  college  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  fraternity,  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Alpha  Alumni  chapter  of  that  fra- 
ternity, and  in  1902  represented  that  body  at  the  biennial  conven- 
tion, which  met  at  the  Majestic  hotel,  in  New  York  city.     He  is  a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  169 

charter  member  and  was  first  secretary  of  the  Pittsburg  circle, 
No.  48,  of  the  Protected  Home  circle,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  the  Americus  republican  club  of  Pitts- 
burg. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Blue  lodge.  Royal  Arch  and 
Chapter  Masons,  the  American  Institute  of  Civics,  and  the  Method- 
ist church,  of  which  body  he  is  a  trustee.  Mr.  Tredway  is  a 
republican  by  birth,  conviction  and  practice,  and  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  political  matters  of  both  the  county  and  State.  He 
is  the  republican  county  committeeman  from  Coraopolis,  has  been 
for  the  past  three  years  a  delegate  to  the  State  conventions,  and 
has  made  political  speeches  throughout  the  county  during  many 
campaigns.  He  was  a  member  of  the  campaign  committee  in  1903. 
Mr.  Tredway  has  never  sought  political  office,  and  his  efforts  have 
been  for  the  furtherance  of  good  government  and  the  selection  of 
the  right  men  to  serve  the  public  in  official  capacities. 

MANSFIELD  A.  ROSS,  of  Coraopolis, 
Pa.,  member  of  the  firm  of  Ross,  Shan- 
non &  Staving,  manufacturers  of  confec- 
tionery, in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Addison  township,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa., 
March  15,  1853,  son  of  Moses  A.  and 
Cynthia  A.  (Mitchell)  Ross.  His  par- 
ents had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living.  His  father  was  a  mer- 
chant of  the  Keystone  State  for  many 
years,  and  his  paternal  ancestors  came 
from  Masontown,  Pa.,  his  great-grand- 
father having  been  a  color-bearer  in  the 
patriot  army  during  the  American  revolution,  under  Mad  Anthony 
Wayne.  The  Ross  family  is  of  Scottish  origin,  having  come 
from  the  highlands  of  that  country,  and  removed  to  Ireland  to 
escape  religious  persecutions.  Robert  Ross,  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  M.  A.  Ross,  was  born  in  1709;  married,  in  Ireland, 
Jane  Latta,  and  came  to  America,  where  his  son  Robert  was  born 
in  1753.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  Robert 
Ross  the  second  entered  the  Continental  army  in  the  company 
which  was  commanded  by  Capt.  James  Taylor,  and  which  was  a 
part  of  4th  Pennsylvania  battalion,  commanded  by  Col. 
Anthony  Wayne.  Robert  Ross  served  in  the  battalion  during  the 
second  year  of  the  war  in  Canada,  was  mustered  out  at  the  expira- 


170  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

tion  of  his  term  of  service,  and  re-enlisted  under  General  Wayne, 
with  whom  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  According  to 
family  records,  he  was  regimental  color-bearer,  and  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Stony  Point,  Brandywine,  and  others  m  which  his 
command  was  engaged.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  removed  to 
Favette  county.  Pa.,  where  he  was  captain  of  a  militia  company 
which  served  in  the  Indian  wars  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  was 
severely  wounded  during  Crawford's  Sandusky  expedition.  He  had 
a  family  of  eight  children,  one  of  his  sons,  Robert,  having  been 
born  in  1786,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  married  Elizabeth 
Virginia  Le  Maire.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  France,  and  her 
mother,  Elizabeth  Monshi,  was  also  a  native  of  that  country,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Paris.  They  were  Catholics,  loyal  to  King  Louis 
XVI.,  and  in  1791  took  passage  for  the  United  States,  during  which 
voyage  Elizabeth  Virginia  was  born.  Robert  Ross  the  third 
served  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  War  of  181 2,  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Detroit,  and  paroled.  He  again  enlisted,  participated  in  the 
fights  at  Lundy  Lane  and  Fort  Erie,  being  severely  wounded  at  the 
latter  engagement.  Subsequently  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army 
and  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  in  1822.  His  son.  General  M.  A. 
Ross,  the  father  of  Mansfield  A.  Ross,  was  born  in  Masontown, 
Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1810,  and  was  twice  married — first,  to  Diana 
Mitchell,  and  the  second  time  to  Cynthia  A.  Mitchell,  a  sister 
of  his  former  wife  and  the  mother  of  Mansfield  A.  Ross.  Gen- 
eral Ross  was  very  prominent  in  military  matters,  having  been 
captain  of  the  Addison  infantry,  and  rose  through  the  various 
grades  to  brigade  commander.  He  was  also  at  different  times 
a  member  of  the  Grand  and  National  divisions  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  was  first  school  director  of  Addison,  and  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  general  conference  in  1869  and  four  terms  as  a  member 
of  the  lay  electoral  conference.  For  seventeen  years  he  was  clerk 
of  the  township,  was  a  man  of  superior  mental  attainments,  and 
possessed  a  fine  library.  Two  of  Mr,  Ross'  maternal  great  uncles, 
James  and  Thomas  Mitchell,  were  soldiers  of  the  patriot  army  dur- 
ing the  American  revolution,  and  his  great-grandfather.  Captain 
Andrew  Friend,  was  known  far  and  near  as  a  scout  and  Indian 
fighter  of  the  early  days.  Mr.  Ross  obtained  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Somerset  county,  and,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  left  his  books  to  engage  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness with  one  of  his  brothers,  opening  a  store  in  Addison  township. 
He  remained  there  for  five  years,  and  then  went  to  Coraopolis  to 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  171 

follow  the  same  business.  He  prospered  in  the  general  mercantile 
line  in  that  borough  for  ten  years,  and  was  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  that  town  for  three  years.  Mr.  Ross  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  Messrs.  Shannon  &  Staving,  who  for  the  past 
three  years  have  been  conducting  a  large  wholesale  and  manufactur- 
ing confectionery  business  in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Ross  was  married  to 
Carrie  A.  Frey,  of  Brandonville,  W.  Va.,  and  their  home-life  is 
indeed  a  happy  one.  Mr.  Ross  is  a  republican,  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks, 
the  Americus  club  of  Pittsburg,  and  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Coraopolis  National  bank 
and  the  Ohio  Valley  trust  company,  and  is  well  known  in  financial 
circles.  Mr.  Ross  is  a  man  that  combines  good  business  qualifica- 
tions with  unusual  geniality  of  manner,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
noted  for  their  hospitality,  which  they  dispense  with  a  lavish  hand 
in  their  beautiful  home  in  Coraopolis. 

JAMES  A.  SUTER,  a  prominent  com- 
.,^^'  mission  merchant  of  Braddock,  was  born 

^  in  Bedford  county,   Pa.,  March  ii,  1858. 

His  parents,  Solomon  and  Elizabeth 
(Heiner)  Suter,  were  both  of  German 
descent.  Mr.  Suter  attended  school  in 
his  native  county,  where  he  lived  on  a 
farm,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  started 
to  learn  the  carpenter  trade.  For  eight 
years  he  worked  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner, 
and  was  able,  from  the  savings  of  his 
labor,  to  open  a  small  grocery  near  his 
present  location  at  No.  849  Braddock 
Ave.  After  another  eight  years,  which  were  years  of  prosperity, 
he  started  in  the  commission  business,  where  he  soon  built  up  an 
extensive  trade  and  secured  a  competency.  His  upright  dealings 
marked  Mr.  Suter  as  a  man  to  be  trusted  with  larger  things,  and 
in  May,  1901,  he  was  chosen  director  of  the  First  National  bank  of 
Braddock,  and  also  as  director  in  the  Braddock  trust  company, 
which  was  organized  in  May,  1901,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $125,000, 
and  a  surplus  of  the  same  amount.  Mr.  Suter^was  married, 
June  28,  1887,  to  Emma,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Phoebe  (Slick) 
Boyce.  The  Boyce  family  came  from  Michigan,  and  the  Slicks  are 
natives  of  Bedford  county,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Suter  have  three 
daughters,  all  in  school,  Gertrude,  Corene  and  Evlyn.     The  family 


172  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

lives  in  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  227  Holland  Ave.,  which  was 
erected  in  1900.  Mr.  Suter  is  a  member  of  Bessemer  tent,  No.  92, 
Knights  of  Maccabees;  Braddock  Field  lodge.  No.  510,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  and  Braddock  lodge,  No.  78,  Independent  Order  of 
Heptasophs.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  of  Braddock.  In  politics  Mr.  Suter  is  a 
republican. 

CHRISTIAN  D.  STEEL,  undertaker 
and  embalmer,  Carnegie,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  Feb.  6,  1839, 
son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Dietrich) 
Steel,  and  comes  from  an  old  and 
respected  Pennsylvania  family.  His 
grandfather.  Rev.  John  Steel,  who  was  a 
Presbyterian  minister  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
was  a  captain  in  the  colonial  army  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  commander 
of  Fort  Steel,  which  was  named  for  him. 
His  father,  Samuel  Steel,  born  Jan.  2, 
1802,  was  a  woodworker  and  afterwards 
a  farmer,  and  a  man  of  decided  political  views.  He  moved  to 
Baltimore  in  1849,  and  in  1857  left  Baltimore  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Union  township,  Allegheny  county.  He  was  an  old-line 
whig,  with  abolition  tendencies,  and  later  an  ardent  republican. 
He  and  his  son,  while  in  Baltimore,  cast  the  only  two  votes  cast  in 
Baltimore  county  in  favor  of  Fremont  for  president.  He  died  in 
1863.  Mr.  Steel  is  descended  on  his  mother's  side  from  an  old 
Pennsylvania  family.  His  grandparents  were  Christian  and  Susan 
Dietrich.  His  mother,  Nancy  Dietrich,  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one.  She  was  reared  as  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  church,  and  died  a  devout  Presbyterian.  Christian  D. 
Steel  is  one  of  ten  children.  The  others  are:  Mary  M.,  who  mar- 
ried James  Smith,  and  died  when  about  forty  years  old;  Andrew 
B.,  born  in  1835,  who  fought  in  the  46th  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry,  in  the  armies  of  the  Potomac  and  Cumberland,  and  was 
killed  in  battle  when  twenty-nine  years  old;  Samuel,  ex-senator, 
who  resides  at  Greentree,  Allegheny  county,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war;  Susan  S.,  wife  of  Christian  Lampe,  a  retired  Civil  war  vet- 
eran, living  near  Pittsburg;  David  S.,  who  lives  in  Pittsburg;  John 
R.,  a  farmer  in  Allegheny  county;  William,  who  died  when  five 
years  old,  in  1852;  Catherine  D.,  who  resides  at  the  home  of  her 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  173 

brother,  Samuel,  and  Ella,  now  Mrs.  John  Holmes.  Christian  D. 
Steel  attended  school  when  a  boy  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm. 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  78th  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  three  years,  being  honorably  discharged  in 
August,  1865.  He  fought  under  General  Thomas  at  Franklin  and 
Nashville,  and  in  several  minor  engagements.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Steel  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  in  company  with  three 
brothers,  and  afterwards  the  brothers  embarked  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, discontinuing  this  in  1883.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Steel  has 
been  in  the  undertaking  and  embalming  business  with  his  brothers, 
and  has  met  with  encouraging  success.  He  learned  embalming 
when  a  young  man.  Mr.  Steel  has  amassed  a  considerable  fortune, 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  both  of  the  Carnegie  banks.  On  Nov.  i, 
1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia  Bradwell,  a  native  of  Alle- 
gheny county,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Frances  Bradwell,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  A  son  of  Mr.  Steel,  Jacob  Steel,  is  in  the 
undertaking  business.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Beadling,  and  has 
one  child,  Christian  D.  Christian  D.  Steel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  an  ardent  republican. 

FRANK  J.  KLUMPP,  chairman  of  the 
department  of  assessors,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Pittsburg  in  1867,  and  there 
attended  the  common  schools.  After- 
wards he  also  attended  Duff's  commercial 
college,  and  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1895.  When  fourteen  years  old, 
Mr.  Klumpp  learned  to  make  lamp  chim- 
neys, and  was  engaged  in  this  work  for 
about  fifteen  years.  In  1899  he  gave  up 
this  vocation,  and,  in  September  of  that 
year,  was  elected  to  his  present  office  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  re-elected  in 
1901.  In  the  shake-up  which  the  Ripper  bill  caused,  Mr.  Klumpp 
fell  with  the  rest,  but  was  reappointed  by  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown. 
Mr.  Klumpp  has  long  been  prominent  in  various  branches  of  public 
activities.  In  1893  he  was  elected  to  the  school  board  from  the 
twenty-eighth  ward,  and  served  in  this  capacity  until  1897.  He 
also  served  two  terms  in  the  common  council  of  Pittsburg  as  the 
representative  of  his  ward,  being  elected  in  February,  1896,  and 
re-elected,  without  opposition,  in  1898.     In  the  fall  of  1898  he  was 


174  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

elected  to  the  legislature  from  the  fifth  district,  and  in  this  contest 
received  a  handsome  plurality  of  votes  over  four  experienced  polit- 
ical opponents.  Mr.  Klumpp  belongs  to  the  Masons  and  the  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Evangelical  church. 

LABANNA  H.  WALTER,  real  estate, 
insurance  and  loan  agent,  and  notary 
public,  of  Carnegie,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county.  Pa.,  April  i8,  1844. 
His  parents  were  David  and  Dorcas 
(Carnahan)  Walter.  Mrs.  Walter  was 
the  youngest  daughter,  by  his  second 
marriage,  of  David  Carnahan,  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Pennsylvania,  and  famous  Indian 
fighter.  David  Walter  was  a  farmer 
and  blacksmith,  and  also  kept  a  country 
store  on  his  farm.  He  was  born  in  181 4, 
and  died  in  1877,  in  Coffee  county,  Tenn. , 
where  he  had  moved  in  1870.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  educational 
affairs,  and  was  a  trustee  of  an  academy  at  his  death.  In  politics 
he  was  an  ardent  abolitionist,  and  believed  in  a  vigorous  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war  against  slavery.  His  wife,  Dorcas  (Carnahan) 
Walter,  died  in  1885,  when  seventy-seven  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
David  Walter  had  nine  children.  Of  these,  Mary  died  when  eight 
years  old,  and  three  others  died  in  childhood;  Philip  was  killed  in 
Tennessee  by  a  falling  limb  from  a  tree,  while  trying  to  stop  a 
forest  fire,  having  previously  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  war  as 
a  private  in  Company  G,  4th  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  Army  of  the 
Potomac;  Nancy  J.  married  William  Alcorn,  and  lives  near  Salts- 
burg,  Westmoreland  county;  David  C.  is  a  farmer,  residing  in 
Westmoreland  county;  Malvina  is  now  Mrs.  Williamson,  and  lives 
near  Murrysville,  Pa.,  and  L.  H.  Walter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county  and  after- 
wards farmed  for  a  time.  In  August,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  was  discharged  from  the  service  in  May,  1865.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1882,  he  embarked  in  the  insurance  business,  and  has  been 
successfully  engaged  in  this  business  ever  since.  He  was  at  first 
in  the  employ  of  R.  H.  Brown,  but  has  been  for  the  past  .ten  years 
conducting  an  agency  in  his  own  name.  He  has  also  for  the  past 
eight  years  been  a  notary  public.     Mr.  Walter  was  married,  March 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


175 


i6,  1870,  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Thorn,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Calhoun)  Thorn.  Mr.  Thorn 
is  now  dead,  but  his  wife  is  still  living,  an  honored  resident  of 
Butler,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  have  two  children,  John  T,  and 
David  J.  The  latter  is  associated  in  business  with  his  father.  Mr. 
Walter  is  collector  for  the  Royal  Arcanum,  treasurer  of  the  Anchor 
building  and  loan  association,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade. 
He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Carnegie. 


WILLIAM  F.  ENGLEHART,  of 
Coraopolis,  Pa.,  superintendent  of  the 
shipping  department  of  the  Consolidated 
lamp  and  glass  company,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Ohio,  July  7,  1858, 
son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Maria  (Rien) 
Englehart.  His  parents  had  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living.  His 
father  was  a  successful  farmer,  and  his 
ancestors  on  both  sides  came  from  Ger- 
many. Mr.  Englehart  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  Matamoras  district 
school  of  Washington  county,  and  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  went  to  work  on  his  father's  farm.  He  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
secured  employment  in  the  glass  works  of  Hobbs,  Brorunier  &  Co., 
of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  He  continued  with  that  concern  for  twelve 
years,  and  then  went  to  Fostoria,  Ohio,  to  work  in  the  shipping 
department  of  the  Butler  art  glass  works.  That  plant  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  he  went  with  the  Fostoria  lamp  and  shade  com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  a  stockholder,  and  when  the  lamp  and  shade 
company  was  consolidated,  he  continued  his  relation  as  stockholder 
and  superintendent  of  the  same  department.  During  his  residence 
in  Fostoria,  Mr.  Englehart  went  into  the  oil  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Landis,  Kopp  &  Englehart.  They  operated  oil  wells 
for  a  time  with  indifferent  success,  but  later  bought  forty  acres  of 
woodland  that  proved  exceedingly  remunerative.  When  the 
Fostoria  company  removed  to  Coraopolis  and  became  part  of  the 
Consolidated  lamp  and  shade  company,  Mr.  Englehart  came  with 
them  as  superintendent  of  the  shipping  department,  and  has  since 
Allied  that  position  with  signal  ability.  He  was  married,  on  June  2, 
1896,  to  Ida  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  F.  W.  Harmon,  of  Hicksville, 


176  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son,  Wallace  Harmon,  who  was  born  on 
July  4,  1902.  Mr.  Englehart  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  councilman  of  the  borough.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  a  stockholder  in 
the  Coraopolis  National  bank  and  the  Ohio  Valley  trust  company. 
Mr.  Englehart  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentleman,  has  many  friends, 
and  is  the  true  type  of  the  good  citizen. 

CHARLES  A.   COOPER,  of   Coraop- 
olis, Pa.,  a   member  of    the    civil   engin- 
eering firm  of  Edeburn,  Cooper  &  Co.,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Moon  town- 
^^  ^^^      ship,   Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  25,  1845, 

I  ^^te'     li^^^H     ^^'^    °^    William    and    Nancy    (Gilchrist) 

*  1^' '  Jm^^^^     Cooper.       His    father   was   a   prosperous 

bookbinder,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five,  and  his  mother  survived  to 
her  eighty-third  year.  He  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent;  his  paternal  great-grand- 
father was  a  soldier  in  the  Continental 
army  during  the  struggles  of  the  colonies 
for  independence,  serving  under  Anthony  Wayne,  in  Captain 
Macey's  company,  was  wounded  at  Three  Rivers,  and  for  some 
time  was  confined  on  the  British  prison  ships.  Nearly  the  whole 
of  Charles  A.  Cooper's  life  has  been  spent  in  Pittsburg.  He 
obtained  a  thorough  training  in  his  profession  of  civil  engineering 
in  the  special  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and,  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  secured  a  position  with  the  United  States  government  on  the 
survey  of  the  Ohio  river,  remaining  on  that  work  for  two  years, 
and  then  went  with  the  Pan  Handle  railroad.  Later  he  engaged 
in  surveying  for  the  water-works  in  Pittsburg,  and  in  1871  became 
a  member  of  the  present  firm  of  Edeburn,  Cooper  &  Co.  Since 
then  he  has  been  instrumental  in  completing  many  large  contracts, 
among  them  being  the  first  survey  for  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie 
railroad,  the  new  water-works  at  Sewickley,  Pa.,  Wellsville,  Ohio, 
and  Coraopolis,  Pa.  He  also  built  the  first  general  sewerage  plant 
in  Pennsylvania  at  Wilkinsburg,  where  he  constructed  twenty-one 
miles  of  sewer.  He  located  and  built  the  Montour  railroad, 
opened  the  mines  of  the  Imperial  coal  company,  and  has  planned 
and  executed  a  great  deal  of  paving  for  the  boroughs  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  State.  He  made  his  residence  at  Coraopolis  in  1887, 
and  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the   Coraopolis  National  bank, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  177 

of  which  institution  he  is  now  vice-president.  He  is  also  a  director 
in  the  Ohio  Valley  trust  company,  and  was  one  of  its  incorporators. 
He  was  married,  in  1870,  to  Margaret  J.  Meek,  of  Moon  township, 
and  they  have  three  children:  F.  M.,  member  of  his  father's  firm; 
Mrs.  Mary  Cooper  Davidson,  and  Ethel.  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  republi- 
can and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

DR.  WILLIAM  CONNER  SHAW,  a 
general  medical  practitioner,  with  offices 
located  at  No.  1009  Wylie  Ave.  and 
No.  213  Frick  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  Scotch- 
Irish  families  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
great-grandparents,  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lowry)  Shaw,  came  to  America 
about  the  year  1771,  and  settled  in  the 
Juniata  valley,  where  they  lived  until 
1785,  when  they  removed  to  Allegheny 
county  and  purchased  a  farm  near  the 
town  of  Wilmerding.  His  grandfather, 
David  Shaw,  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  May  21,  1761, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  America  while  still  in  his  boyhood. 
At  his  death  the  farm  near  Wilmerding,  which  he  had  inherited 
from  his  father,  became  the  property  of  his  two  sons,  William  A. 
and  John  Shaw,  the  former  of  whom  was  Dr.  Shaw's  father. 
Dr.  Shaw's  paternal  grandmother,  Jane  Ekin,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  Aug.  2,  1764,  and  died  Aug.  4,  1866.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Jamison)  Ekin,  who  came 
from  County  Derry,  Ireland,  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  and  settled  in  York  county,  but  afterward  removed  to 
Versailles  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  On  the  maternal  side  his 
mother  was  Sarah  Theresa  Conner,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Rev. 
William  Conner,  a  United  Presbyterian  minister,  whose  last 
charge  was  at  Blairsville,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  son  of 
Cornelius  Conner,  Jr.,  who,  with  his  two  brothers,  John  and 
William,  and  his  father,  Cornelius  Conner,  Sr.,  served  in  the  Amer- 
ican army  in  the  war  for  independence.  Cornelius  Conner,  Sr., 
was  a  sergeant  in  Capt,  Benjamin  Harrison's  company,  in  the  13th 
Virginia  regiment,  during  the  Revolution,  under  Col.  William 
Russell.  The  Conners  were  also  noted  Indian  fighters.  After  the 
Revolution  the  family  settled  in  Allegheny  county  at  the  same  time 
and  in  the  same  neighborhood  with  the  Dents,  Craigs  and  Nevilles, 
1—12 


178  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  Dr. 
Shaw's  maternal  grandmother,  Margaret  (Murdoch)  Conner,  was  a 
native  of  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  near  Belfast.  The  paternal 
grandparents  were  members  of  the  Old  Brush  Creek  A.  R.  Pres- 
byterian church,  near  what  is  now  Larimer  station.  This  church 
was  presided  over  by  the  celebrated  Hendersons  (Matthew,  Sr., 
and  his  son,  Matthew,  Jr.,  and  Ebenezer,  father  of  Matthew,  Sr.) 
as  pastors.  The  latter  Henderson  also  at  that  time  supplied 
the  First  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg.  Dr.  William 
C.  Shaw  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Versailles  township,  where  his 
father  before  him  was  also  born,  Feb.  7,  1846.  During  his  boy- 
hood he  worked  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools 
of  the  township,  where  he  received  his  primary  education. 
In  February,  1864,  he  entered  Newell's  institute  at  Pittsburg, 
where  he  spent  two  years  preparing  himself  to  enter  college,  and 
was  graduated  from  Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  at  Wash- 
ington, Pa.,  in  1869.  He  read  medicine  for  one  year  in  the  office 
of  Dr.  W.  R.  Hamilton,  of  Pittsburg,  after  which  he  matriculated 
in  the  Bellevue  hospital  medical  college,  of  New  York,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  with  honors  on  the  last  day  of  February, 
1872.  For  the  next  six  months  he  studied  with  Prof.  Joseph  W. 
Howe,  of  New  York,  and  then  took  the  competitive  examination 
for  admission  to  the  Bellevue  hospital  as  resident  surgeon  for. a 
term  of  two  years.  He  passed  the  examination  over  all  competitors 
and  served  as  resident  surgeon  from  1872  to  1874.  During  the  last 
eighteen  months  of  his  term  he  was  on  the  second  surgical  division, 
serving  under  such  eminent  surgeons  as  Frank  H.  Hamilton, 
Louis  A.  Sayre,  H.  B.  Sands,  Stephen  Smith  and  Alexander  B. 
Mott.  At  the  expiration  of  his  hospital  service  he  came  to  Pitts- 
burg and  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  on 
Wylie  avenue,  not  far  from  his  present  location.  Dr.  Shaw  was- 
married,  Nov.  i,  1877,  to  Miss  Martha  M.  Lewis,  daughter  of  J.  C. 
and  Sarah  (Sargent)  Lewis.  His  wife's  father  was  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Lewis,  Bailey,  Dalzell  &  Co.,  iron  manufacturers, 
of  Sharpsburg,  Allegheny  county.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  have  two 
daughters:  Sarah  Louise,  who  graduated  from  Wilson  college  in 
1902,  and  Jennie  Ekin,  who  is  now  attending  that  institution. 
From  1876  to  1878  Dr.  Shaw  was  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  Mercy 
hospital,  of  Pittsburg,  and  from  1878  to  1887  he  was  on  the  surgical 
staff  of  the  same  institution.  Since  1889  he  has  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  physician  and  obstetrician  to  the  Bethesda  home,  and  until 
recently   was   alternate    surgeon    for   the    Pennsylvania   and   Pan 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  179 

Handle  railroad  companies.  Since  1881  he  has  been  the  medical 
examiner  for  the  Equitable  life  assurance  society  of  New  York,  and 
for  the  National  life  insurance  of  Vermont  since  1882.  He  is  also 
examiner  for  the  Home,  Manhattan  and  Mutual  life  insurance 
companies  of  New  York,  the  Michigan  Mutual,  the  New  England, 
and  the  Bankers',  of  Des  Moines,  la.,  and  surg-eon  for  the 
Employes'  liability  and  accident  company,  of  London,  and  the 
Fidelity  and  Casualty  company  of  New  York.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Allegheny  county  and  the  Pennsylvania  State  medical  societies, 
the  American  medical  association,  the  American  academy  of  medi- 
cine, the  Alumni  society  of  Bellevue  hospital,  the  Pittsburg  chapter 
of  the  Sigma  Chi  fraternity,  and  is  a  life  member  of  the  Pittsburg 
free  dispensary,  and  the  Western  Pennsylvania  exposition  society. 
He  is  also  a  member  and  one  of  the  elders  in  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  Bellevue;  a  life  member  of  the  Scotch-Irish  society 
of  America,  of  which  he  is  secretary  for  western  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  Scotch-Irish  society  of  Pennsylvania.  In  political  matters  he 
always  acts  with  the  republican  party,  though  he  seldom  plays  an 
active  part  in  political  campaigns.  He  resides  at  No.  300  Lincoln 
Ave.,  Bellevue,  at  the  corner  of  Thomas  Ave.,  and  besides  his 
office  at  No.  213  Frick  building,  he  maintains  another  main  office 
at  No.  1009  Wylie  Ave.  Dr.  Shaw  has  a  large  practice,  and  in  the 
treatment  of  diseases  is  eminently  successful,  owing  to  the 
thorough  training  he  received  while  in  college  and  in  Bellevue 
hospital,  and  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  man  who  keeps  fully  up 
with  the  new  remedies  and  discoveries  concerning  his  profession. 

f^  DR.ALVINST.CLAIRDAGGETTE, 

l^^k  whose    offices    are    located    at    No.    400 

^^k  South  Craig  St.,  is  one  of  the  best-known 
Hl^Hk  and  most  popular  physicians  in  the  city 
j^H|  of  Pittsburg.  His  ancestors  were  among 
Ii^^HB  the  first  settlers  of  western  Pennsylvania. 
fj^^H  His  paternal  great-grandfather,  John 
^^^m  Daggette,  served  from  1775  to  1782  in 
^^HV  the  American  army  during  the  war  of  the 
^^^m  Revolution,  being  several  times  dis- 
^^m  charged,    but     each     time     re-enlisting. 

^^  During  his  last  enlistment,  from  June  to 

December,  1782,  he  was  a  sergeant  under 
Captain  Sexton  and  Colonel  Walbridge.  After  the  war  he  settled 
in  Erie  county,  Pa.,  having  formerly  been  a  citizen  of  Vermont. 


180  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

His  son,  George  Daggette,  married  Rachel  Morton,  whose  great- 
uncle,  Thomas  Morton,  settled  upon  a  tract  of  land,  in  1767,  near 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Buena  Vista,  in  Allegheny  county,  and 
received  a  patent  for  it  in  1771.  Upon  his  death,  this  farm  passed 
to  his  nephew,  Allen  Morton,  the  father  of  Rachel,  who  was  the 
grandmother  of  Dr.  Daggette,  and  who  inherited  the  farm  upon 
the  death  of  her  father.  It  was  upon  this  farm  that  Dr.  Alvin  S. 
Daggette  was  born,  March  17,  1856.  His  parents  were  John 
Morton  and  Mary  McColly  (Kelly)  Daggette,  who  had  inherited 
the  old  Morton  homestead.  Dr.  Daggette  is  the  second  of  a  family 
of  six  children.  The  others,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  were:  Mary 
Ra  Laura;  Olive  T.,  who  died  in  1883;  Kate  Emma,  wife  of  Noah 
Rhodes,  the  cashier  of  the  Smithton  bank,  at  Smithton,  Pa.  ;  Bertie 
Wallace,  who,  with  the  eldest  daughter,  still  lives  upon  the 
homestead,  and  Frank  Summerfield,  a  member  of  the  W.  W. 
McBride  paper  company,  of  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Daggette  received  his 
early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Allegheny  county.  This 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  State  normal  school  located  at 
Indiana,  Pa.,  after  which  he  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township  for  several  years.  Deciding  to  enter  the  medical 
profession,  he  attended  the  Western  Reserve  university  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  that 
institution  on  March  2,  1881.  After  graduating,  he  first  located  at 
Shaner  Station,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
general  practice  until  November,  1886,  when  he  removed  to  Pitts- 
burg. In  his  new  location  he  soon  succeeded  in  establishing  a 
large  practice,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  family  physicians  in 
the  city.  His  work  is  of  a  general  character,  including  all  branches 
of  medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county 
and  Pennsylvania  State  medical  societies;  the  Academy  of  sciences 
and  art,  and  art  society,  of  Pittsburg,  the  American  association  for 
the  advancement  of  science,  and  is  president  of  the  Western 
Reserve  alumni  association,  of  western  Pennsylvania.  He  is  also  a 
member  and  deacon  of  the  Bellefield  Presbyterian  church,  of  Pitts- 
burg. Dr.  Daggette  was  married.  May  7,  1885,  to  Miss  Fannie 
Flotilla  Prescott,  of  Youghiogheny,  Westmoreland  county,  and  they 
have  one  child,  William  Morton  Clair.  While  living  at  Shaner 
Station,  in  Westmoreland  county.  Dr.  Daggette  served  on  the 
school  board  of  Sewickley,  and  was  also  treasurer  of  the  school 
funds.  He  was  also  surgeon  for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad 
relief  association.  In  all  these  positions  he  won  the  confidence  of 
his  employers,  because  he  was  always  attentive  to  their  interests 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  181 

and  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  The  same  is  true  of  his 
private  patients.  They  know  that  he  can  always  be  trusted  to 
come  to  their  relief  on  short  notice,  and  his  popularity  is  due  as 
much  to  his  readiness  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the  suffering  as  to 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine. 

^^^^^^  HORACE     S.     RITTER,    M.    D.,    of 

^^^^^^^1^^^  Pittsburg,   Pa.,   a    well-known  physician, 

^^^^^^  ^^^^  was  born  in  Tioga,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa., 
^^^^^^^ .j|J^^^  June  17,  1S65,  son  of  Frederick  D.  and 
^^^^^^^H|^  ^^^  Albina  (Vermelyea)  Ritter,  his  father 
^^^^^^^^^K^^^^^  having  served  through  the  Civil  war  as 
^^^^^^^^^l^^^H  surgeon  and  major  in  the  4th  Pennsyl- 
pll^H  ^^^^^^^m  vania  reserves;  later  was  a  successful 
' ^m^^L  ^^^^m  physician  of  Tioga,  Pa.  ;  then  removed  to 
^^^^^^^S^^^m  Gaines,  Pa.,  where  he  practiced  until  his 
^^^^KB^^^  death   on  March   12,    1S97.     Dr.   Ritter's 

^^^^^^^^^  paternal   ancestors   came    to  America  in 

1760,  located  in  Otsego  county,  N.  Y. , 
where  Andrew  Ritter,  his  grandfather,  gained  fame  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  being  a  member  of  the  famous  Mohawk 
guards  of  that  State.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Horace  C. 
Vermelyea,  well  known  as  a  true  disciple  of  Izaak  Walton,  and  who 
was  prominently  identified  with  the  fishing  clubs  of  New  York  until 
his  death,  in  1878.  His  ancestors  came  from  Holland,  settled  in  the 
Amsterdam  colony  in  New  York,  and  were  prominently  identified 
with  that  body.  Dr.  Ritter  was  educated  in  the  rudimentary 
branches  in  the  public  schools  of  Tioga,  was  graduated  from  the 
Wellsboro  high  school  in  1878,  and  then  entered  Alfred  university, 
of  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.  He  attended  that  school  for  three 
years,  later  matriculated  at  St.  Joseph  college  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1883,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
ai-ts.  In  1886  he  secured  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  from  that 
institution.  The  next  year  was  spent  at  the  Buffalo  college  of 
pharmacy,  and  in  1884  he  entered  Jefferson  medical  college,  and 
there  was  graduated  in  1888,  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine. 
He  was  in  the  hospitals  of  Philadelphia  for  two  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.  ;  there  made  a  specialty  of  the  eye,  meet- 
ing with  much  success  until  1901,  when  he  came  to  Pittsburg, 
and  has  since  prospered  as  a  general  practitioner  of  medicine  and 
surgery.  In  1897  the  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  was  con- 
ferred on  him  by  the  University  of  Montreal.     Dr.  Ritter  has  been 


182  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

eye  surgeon  to  the  Ogden  Memorial  and  other  hospitals  in  Elmira, 
from  1892  to  1901,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Chernung  county,  the 
Tioga  county,  the  New  York  State  and  the  American  medical  asso- 
ciations, the  Elmira  academy  of  medicine  and  the  Military  surgeons' 
association  of  the  United  States.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  obtained  the  consistory  and  Knights  Templars 
degrees;  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E. ;  of  the  Sons  of 
Veterans,  of  which  he  is  first  lieutenant  in  New  York  State,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  first  class  of  the  Loyal  Legion  since  the  death  of 
his  father.  He  was  married,  in  1888,  to  Clara  Alys,  daughter  of 
Charles  Scheffel,  of  Williamsport,  formerly  a  prominent  lumber 
dealer,  but  now  retired  from  active  life.  Dr.  Ritter  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  and  is  identified  with  religious  and  philan- 
thropic work  in  the  city. 

JAMES      HARVEY     McCABE,     de- 
ceased,  late  of  Coraopolis,  Pa.,  for  many 
years    a   successful   farmer,  was  born    in 
*?   ^^4.  Moon     township,     Allegheny     Co.,    Pa, 

^Ir    W  ^\^y  3,  18 14,  and  was  the  son  of  James  E. 

'  -J^"^  McCabe.      His  father  was  descended  from 

Owen  McCabe,  who  came  to  America  in 
the  early  days  from  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, and  founded  the  McCabe  family  in 
America.  Our  subject's  ancestors  have 
been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  coun- 
try, a  number  of  them  serving  in  the 
patriot  army  during  the  struggles  of  the 
colonies  for  independence,  and  otherwise  known  in  the  council 
chamber  and  on  the  field  of  battle.  James  Harvey  McCabe  had 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  William  Reed, 
John  M.  and  Junius  D.  He  was  a  successful  and  prosperous 
farmer  during  his  business  career,  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
period  in  early  manhood  when  he  was  on  the  river.  He  was  a 
member  and  strong  supporter  of  the  old  whig  party,  and  at  the 
birth  of  the  republican  party  cast  his  allegiance  with  it  and  pro- 
mulgated its  tenets  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  religious  affiliation 
was  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  for  many  years  was  an 
elder  in  different  churches  of  that  denomination  ;  first,  in  the  old 
Sharon  church  in  Moon  township;  later,  in  Forest  Grove  church  in 
Robinson  township,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  the  church  at 
Coraopolis.     Mr.    McCabe    was    married    to    Dorcas,    daughter   of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  183 

James  Reed,  of  Finclley  township,  Allegheny  county,  and  they  had 
eight  children.  Mr.  McCabe's  life  was  a  long  and  useful  one,  and 
his  passing  through  the  world  was  of  distinct  benefit  to  the  section 
in  which  he  lived.  He  died  on  April  lo,  1891,  having  exceeded 
the  biblical  limit  of  a  man's  life,  and  his  death  was  sincerely 
regretted  by  the  entire  community. 


WILLIAM  H.  H.  LEA,  postmaster  of 
-■^*»^^^^  Carnegie  and  one  of  the  leading  men  of 

I  «  Allegheny    county,    was    born    in    Alle- 

JilSw   I  gheny  county,  Pa.,  Jan.    18,  1846,  son  of 

^f/^^  ^  William     Lea    and    Mary   Verner    Lea. 

jHft|k     '  William   Lea   was  a  contractor  and   car- 

'IH^^^  penter,    and    a    well-known    man   of    his 

^^^^HH^^^^  time.      He  was  born  on  a  farm  owned  by 

^|||^^^B1|B^^^H^       his  father,  also  named  William  Lea,  who 
^^^^H9^^^^^        owned  an  extensive  farm  near  Carnegie 
^^^^^^^^^^r  and  gave  his  name  to  Leasdale  Station. 

^^^^^^^^  He  was  the  son  of  Maj.  William  Lea,  an 

officer  in  the  English  army,  who  came  to 
America  some  time  between  1770  and  1780,  and  took  up  the  farm 
which  remained  in  possession  of  the  Lea  family  until  1896.  Major 
Lea's  eldest  child  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  vicinity. 
He  had  also  three  other  children,  Robert,  William  and  Samuel. 
The  major  lived  to  be  almost  ninety  years  old,  and  his  wife  also 
lived  to  a  good  old  age.  William  H.  H.  Lea,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  four  children.  The  others  are:  Mansfield 
B.,  a  resident  of  Etna  borough;  Cassius  M.,  who  lives  in  Carnegie, 
and  Margaret  E.,  who  married  E.  H.  Leasure,  and  also  lives  in 
Allegheny  county.  William  H.  H.  Lea  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Scott  township,  Allegheny  county,  and  then,  Dec.  7, 
1861,  when  less  than  sixteen  years  old,  he  joined  the  112th  Pennsyl- 
vania veteran  volunteers,  and  fought  valiantly  throughout  the  war, 
being  mustered  out  as  a  lieutenant  some  four  years  after  his  enlist- 
ment. During  the  war  he  was  never  wounded  and  never  taken 
prisoner,  and  came  out  in  much  better  physical  condition  than 
when  he  enlisted.  He  had  the  honor  of  being  first  assistant  pro- 
vost marshal  under  Capt.  John  B.  Kreps,  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  and 
also  agent  of  the  Freedmen's  bureau  in  Prince  Edward  and 
Amelia  counties,  Va  ,  and  at  Berksville  Junction  after  Lee's  sur- 
render. After  the  war  Mr.  Lea  spent  several  years  as  a  miller  at 
the  Woodville  flour  mills,  and  in    1870  came  to  Mansfield,  which  is 


184  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

now  Carnegie,  and  was  employed  for  some  time  as  a  clerk.  •  On 
Aug.  3,  1889,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Mansfield  Valley, 
Pa.,  under  President  Harrison,  and  served  five  years.  He  was 
also  for  four  years  clerk  in  the  prothonotary's  office  in  Pittsburg, 
and  then  resigned  to  become  postmaster  at  Carnegie,  Pa., 
appointed  by  President  McKinley,  and  is  still  acting  as  postmaster, 
having  proved  a  capable  and  efficient  official.  Mr.  Lea  has  held  a 
number  of  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  has  served  a  year 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  been  connected  with  the  building  associa- 
tion of  Carnegie,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade.  He 
was  married.  May  30,  1872,  to  Miss  Kate  E.  McQuitty,  daughter  of 
Andrew  McQuitty.  The  children  born  of  this  union  are:  A. 
Blanchard,  engineer;  Robert  \V.,  electrician;  Mary  E.,  a  graduate 
of  Westminster  college,  now  teaching  in  Carnegie  high  school; 
Sylva  B. ,  money  order  clerk  and  cashier  of  the  Carnegie  postoffice, 
and  Ben  H.,  student  in  the  Carnegie  high  school.  Mr.  Lea  and 
family  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  been  adjutant  for  the  past  eleven 
years. 

WILLIAM  JORDAN,  pastor  of  St. 
Francis'  German  Catholic  church,  at 
Homestead,  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Baden,  Germany,  Sept.  13,  1861,  son  of 
Sebastian  and  Tecla  Jordan.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  country,  and  attended 
the  University  of  Freiburg,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1886.  In  1887  he  came 
to  America  and  entered  the  theological 
department  of  St.  Vincent's  college,  La- 
trobe.  Pa.  After  completing  his  religious 
education,  he  was  ordained  to  the  priest- 
hood in  1888  by  Bishop  Phelan,  and 
assigned  to  his  first  charge  as  assistant  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  church, 
Altoona,  Pa. ,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In  1892  Father  Jordan 
was  assigned  to  St.  Cecilia  parish,  Rochester,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Wexford,  Allegheny  county, 
as  pastor  of  St.  Alphonsus' church.  In  1S97  Father  Jordan  was 
assigned  to  Homestead,  where  he  has  since  remained  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  as  a  faithful  and  conscientious  worker  for  the 
church.  When  he  came  to  Homestead  the  church  had  a  member- 
ship  of    120    families,    but   now   contains   only    seventy   families, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  185 

because  the  Polish  element  of  the  congregation  broke  off  and 
formed  a  church  of  its  own.  The  seating  capacity  of  St.  Francis' 
church  is  about  450,  and  the  parochial  school  in  connection  has  an 
attendance  of  seventy  pupils. 

ORANGE  SCOTT  COLE,  locomotive 
engineer,  residing  at  no  Railroad  Ave., 
Carnegie,  was  born  in  Lawrence  county, 
Pa.,  Oct.  4,  1849.  His  father,  Encer 
Cole,  born  Nov.  27,  1827,  is  still  living, 
though  long  since  retired  from  active 
life,  but  his  mother,  Anna  P.  (Houlette) 
Cole,  died  Aug.  17,  1898,  when  seventy- 
seven  years  old.  The  father  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  farmer  and 
dealer  in  live-stock,  and  furnished  horses 
for  the  army  during  the  Civil  war.  He 
was  married,  Nov.  23,  1848,  to  Mrs. 
Anna  P.  Brown,  formerly  the  wife  of  Caleb  Brown,  of  Newcastle, 
who  had  one  son  by  this  marriage,  Lafayette  Brown.  Lafayette 
Brown  served  three  years  as  a  private  in  Battery  M,  ist  United 
States  light  artillery,  during  the  Civil  war.  He  was  emplo}^ed  as 
a  railroad  conductor  after  the  war  and  lost  his  life  in  an  accident 
while  making  a  coupling.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Cole,  Mrs.  Cole 
had  five  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Orange  S.,  is 
the  eldest.  Of  the  others,  Mary  E.  is  now  Mrs.  William  Henry, 
of  Youngstown,  Ohio;  William  M.,  a  resident  of  Carnegie,  is  a 
roundhouse  foreman;  Edwin  W.  is  in  the  hotel  business  at  Darling- 
ton, Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  and  Lizzie  J.  is  married  to  Henry  J.  Polock, 
a  resident  of  Carnegie,  and  foreman  of  th'e  carpenters  of  the  Pan 
Handle  railway.  O.  S.  Cole,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  the  high  school  at  Mount  Jackson, 
Lawrence  county.  During  the  Civil  war  he  assisted  his  father  in 
buying  and  shipping  horses,  and  later,  in  1870,  began  his  life-work 
as  a  railroad  man.  He  was  first  employed  for  ten  months  as  a 
wiper,  then  promoted  to  fireman,  and  two  years  later,  Jan.  27, 
1873,  was  given  charge  of  an  engine.  Mr.  Cole  has  been  for  thirty 
years  an  engineer  on  the  Pan  Handle  railroad,  and  his  long  service 
in  the  em.ploy  of  the  same  company  tells  of  ability  and  faithful 
attention  to  duty.  He  came  to  Carnegie  Aug.  9,  1870,  and  has 
ever  since  been  one  of  her  honored  residents.  He  was  for  six 
years  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  while  he  was  secretary  of 


186  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

the  board,  an  addition  to  the  first  ward  schoolhouse  was  erected 
and  numerous  minor  building  improvements  were  made.  On 
Dec.  II,  1S72,  Mr.  Cole  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Young,  of 
Carnegie,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  Young,  both  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Cole's  brother  William  is  now  dead,  and  six 
other  brothers  and  sisters  are  living:  Ellen  K.,  now  Mrs.  N.  J. 
Knolten,  of  Philadelphia;  Robert,  baggage  master  on  the 
P.  C.  &  Y.  railroad;  Eliza  J.;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  W.  W.  Connor; 
Joseph,  an  engineer,  residing  in  Carnegie,  and  John,  also  an 
engineer.  Mr.  O.  S.  Cole  and  wife  had  seven  children:  .Cora  B., 
now  Mrs.  Frank  Mercer,  a  resident  of  Carnegie;  Edwin  J.,  also 
a  resident  of  Carnegie,  who  married  Anna  Mary  Burgan; 
William  J.,  now  employed  as  a  passenger  brakeman;  Burtie, 
who  died  in  1882,  when  two  years  old;  Nettie  O.,  at  home,  house- 
keeper for  her  father;  George  H.,  fireman  on  the  Pan  Handle 
railroad;  Ella  M.,  attending  Carnegie  high  school.  Mrs.  Cole  died 
July  16,  1900.  She  was  born  Nov.  26,  1855.  She  was  a  devout 
Christian,  an  active  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
and  a  woman  whose  life  was  an  inspiration  to  her  many  acquaint- 
ances. IMr.  Cole  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Royal 
Arcanum,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and 
Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  He  has  been  for 
years  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Carnegie.  In  politics 
he  is  an  ardent  republican. 

DR.  JAMES  FRANCIS  PHILIPS, 
whose  family  name  is  derived  from  the 
word  "Philip,"  meaning  a  lover  of 
horses,  located  at  No.  2139  Wylie  Ave., 
'  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  the  little  vil- 
lage of  Library,  Allegheny  county, 
May  17,  ]859.  The  town  of  Library  was 
so  called  because  it  contained  the  first 
circulating  library  established  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  and  has  grown  but 
little  since  it  was  first  founded.  Dr. 
Philips  is  the  son  of  David  L.  and  Nancy 
(Allison)  Philips,  his  father  being  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  who  died  in  1893.  His  ancestors  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Philips'  great-grandfather, 
David  Philips,  came  with  his  parents,  Joseph  'and  Mary  Philips,  to 
America  in  1755,  from  Pembrokeshire,  Wales,  and  settled  near  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  187 

town  of  West  Chester,  Pa.  During  the  Revolutionary  war,  General 
Washington's  army  was  located  for  a  while  near  the  Philips  home- 
stead, and  David  and  his  three  brothers  rendered  the  American 
general  valuable  service  in  the  way  of  giving  information  concern- 
ing the  people  inhabiting  that  section  of  the  State.  In  a  personal 
interview  with  General  Washington,  they  obtained  permission  to 
form  a  company,  and  each  of  the  four  boys  received  a  commission : 
David  as  captain,  two  as  lieutenants,  and  the  fourth  as  ensign, 
which  was  then  a  commissioned  office.  After  the  war,  Capt.  David 
Philips  settled  at  Library,  Pa.,  where  he  organized  the  Peters 
Creek  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  was  pastor  from  1783  to  1829, 
being  the  first  Baptist  minister  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains 
He  died  in  1829,  and  lies  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Library,  his 
grave  being  marked  by  a  Revolutionary  marker.  Dr.  Philips' 
mother  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  Holland  families 
that  settled  in  the  colony  of  New  Amsterdam  at  a  very  early  date. 
Dr.  Philips  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  county 
and  at  Piersol's  academy,  at  Bridge  water,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  from 
which  some  of  the  greatest  men  in  the  country  received  their  edu- 
cation. After  leaving  the  academy,  he  taught  for  nine  years  in 
the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  and  Beaver  counties.  He  entered 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ,  and 
graduated  in  1889,  after  a  three-5-ear  course.  The  same  year  he 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  Medico-Chirurgical  college, 
of  Philadelphia.  On  May  8,  1889,  he  located  at  his  present  address 
and  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Allegheny  county  medical  society,  the  American  medical  asso- 
ciation, Dallas  lodge.  No.  508,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Beaver 
lodge,  No.  248,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  located  in  West 
Bridgewater,  Beaver  county;  member  of  Beulah  conclave.  No.  296, 
Order  of  Heptasophs,  and  Center  Avenue  lodge.  No.  124, 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the  Masonic  country  club.  From  1890  to  1895 
he  was  vaccine  physician  for  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  During  the 
year  1901  he  was  surgeon  to  the  police  force  and  fire  department 
of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  for  the  same  period  was  physician  to 
the  bureau  of  health.  From  1894  to  1898  he  was  examiner  for  the 
Manhattan  life  insurance  company,  of  New  York,  and  from  1896 
to  1900  he  was  examiner  for  the  Illinois  life  association.  He  is 
now  the  examiner  for  the  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  for  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  Politically,  Dr.  Philips  is  a  republican, 
but  was  one  of  the  instigators  and  promoters  of  the  citizens'  party 
in  Pittsburg,  having  been   chairman   of   the   party  organization  in 


188  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

the  eleventh  ward  from  the  beginning  of  the  movement.  He  is  a 
member  of  Christ  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Dr.  Philips  is  in 
the  highest  sense  of  the  term  a  self-made  man.  His  genial  disposi- 
tion makes  friends,  but  he  holds  those  friends  through  the  sterling 
qualities  that  he  has  developed  by  careful  study  and  training.  His 
patients  know  him  for  a  conscientious  physician  and  humane  man. 
They  know,  too,  that  they  can  rely  fully  upon  his  word,  and  have 
faith  in  his  skill  and  his  promises. 

WILLIAM  U.  SMITH,  wagon-maker 
at  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
July  13,  1841,  son  of  W.  D.  and  Martha 
(Uffington)  Smith,  natives,  respectively, 
of  England  and  New  Jersey.  W.  D. 
Smith  was  a  music  dealer  in  Pittsburg, 
and  afterwards  taught  music.  He  came 
to  Carnegie  in  1867  and  died  there  in 
1872.  Martha  (Uffington)  Smith  is  still 
living  in  Carnegie  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-eight.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  dea- 
con of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
his  wife  is  also  a  member.  William  U. 
Smith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  one  living  of  three 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  D.  Smith.  The  first-born  son, 
Thomas,  died  in  infancy,  and  the  youngest,  Frank,  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Auldey's  Gap,  Va.,  in  July,  1863.  He  enlisted  with 
a  Pittsburg  company  and  fought  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg  about  a  week  before  his  death.  William 
U.  Smith  also  fought  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
left  arm  when  fighting  at  Antietam.  He  enlisted  in  1862,  in  Com- 
pany A,  9th  Pennsylvania  reserves,  army  of  the  Potomac.  His 
first  battle  was  at  South  Mountain;  then  came  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam, in  which  he  received  the  wound  that  disabled  him  for  further 
service.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  after 
several  months  spent  in  a  hospital,  in  May,  1363.  Mr.  Smith  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and,  in 
1858-59,  was  second  clerk  on  a  steamboat.  In  i860  he  began 
clerking  in  a  flour  mill  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was  there  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out.  In  1862  he  returned  to  the  north  to  join 
the  army  and  fight  for  his  country.  After  completing  his  service 
in  the  war,  Mr.  Smith  went  to  England,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  returning  in  1866  to  begin  his  business  as  a  wagon-maker. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  189 

For  two  years  he  worked  for  another  firm,  and  then  started  in  for 
himself.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  good  workman,  naturally  skilful  with 
tools,  and  his  products  are  well  known  and  find  ready  sale.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  that  community,  and  has 
held  several  offices  of  trust.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  He 
was  burgess  of  Carnegie  two  years,  school  director  thirteen  years, 
and  has  been  assessor,  with  the  exception  of  two  terms,  continu- 
ously since  1872.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade,  and  has 
been  for  the  past  ten  years  secretary  of  the  Anchor  building  and 
iron  association.  On  Jan.  24,  1872,  Mr.  Smith  married  Harriet 
Maria  Lewis,  daughter  of  Alfred  and  Harriet  Lewis,  of  England. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  five  children,  as  follows:  Frank  B., 
chemist  at  Tola,  Kan.,  who  married  Miss  Bessie  Lawton ;  Joseph 
A.  L. ,  a  printer  by  vocation,  captain  of  Company  K,  14th  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry;  Lillian  V.,  a  graduate  of  the  Pitts- 
burg school  of  designs  and  teacher  of  painting;  Gertrude  V.,  who 
married  Percy  Davis,  and  lives  in  the  thirty-sixth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
and  William  U.,  Jr.,  attending  the  Carnegie  schools.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  prominent  member  of  several  secret  societies,  is  secretary  of 
the  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  keeper  of  the  records  and  seal  of  the  K.  of  P. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Veteran  legion,  of  Pittsburg. 

-'j^^.  DANIEL     WEBSTER     WYLIE,     of 

^gj^Pi[^^^  Pittsburg,    Pa  ,    a   prominent  contractor, 

■^  ^^^       ^^^     born     in     Hancock     county.      Pa., 

■k'V^      ^^A      ^^^'   ^^'   ^^54'  ^^'^  ^^   John  M.  and  Jane 
■p  ^^      e^f^^     (Henderson)    Wylie.       His    parents   had 
Wf'\         'M^l     "^""^  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living, 
^P^        I^^H     his   brother  being  George   O.    Wylie,  of 
^^^^^    J^^^K     Pittsburg.     His  father  was  a  successful 
^^I^HBHP^^^^V      farmer,  and  both  his  maternal  and  pater- 
^^^^E  ^^^^^m        nal    ancestors    were    from    Scotland   and 
^^^^^^^^^^r  strict  adherents  to  the  Presbyterian  faith. 

^^^^^^^^^  Mr.  Wylie  secured  his  early  education  in 

the  public  schools  of  Hancock  county, 
later  attended  a  preparatory  course  at  the  Frankfort  Springs  acad- 
emy, of  Beaver  county,  and  then  matriculated  at  the  Waynesburg 
college.  He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1880,  and  later 
studied  law  with  James  P.  Sayer,  of  Washington,  Pa.,  but  never 
practiced  that  profession.  Mr.  Wylie  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Ida, 
daughter  of  Jesse  Hunnell,  of  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  and  then  came  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  was  prominent  in  the  insurance   business  as 


190  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

general  agent  for  the  Dwelling  House  insurance  company  of  Boston 
and  the  Phoenix  life  of  Hartford.  He  prospered  in  that  business 
for  eight  years,  then  engaged  in  his  present  line  of  real  estate  and 
contracting,  and  now  controls  large  interests.  He  is  secretary  of 
the  City  realty  trust,  of  Pittsburg,  and  is  also  a  director  of  the 
Standard  trust  company,  of  Butler,  Pa.,  which  he  organized.  His 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

PAUL    B.    DOYLE,   M.  D.,  a  promi- 

tnent  physician  of  Allegheny,  located  at 
No  2006  Beaver  Ave. ,  was  born  in  Leech- 
burg,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa  ,  on  April  14, 
1864.  His  parents  were  Moses  and  Ellen 
B.  Doyle.  Dr.  Doyle  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools,  after 
which  he  took  a  medical  course  at  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
graduating  in  the  class  of  1897.  He  at 
once  entered  actively  into  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  locating  in  Allegheny. 
His  efforts  have  been  rewarded  by  a  con- 
stantly increasing  patronage  and  also  by  his  selection  as  the 
consulting  physician  and  surgeon  of  several  large  manufacturing 
concerns  and  insurance  companies,  among  them  being  the  Ameri- 
can locomotive  company,  the  Pennsylvania  wheel  company  and  the 
Pennsylvania  casting  machine  company.  He  is  examiner  for  the 
Fidelity  mutual  insurance  company,  Philadelphia,  also  for  the 
Bankers'  life,  Des  Moines,  la.,  and  of  three  fraternal  orders,  viz. : 
the  I.  O.  of  Heptasophs,  the  Maccabees  and  the  National  Union. 
Dr.  Doyle  is  a  prominent  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Davage 
lodge,  No.  374,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  in  Allegheny  chapter,  No.  217;  in 
Allegheny  commandery,  K.  T.,  No.  35,  and  consistory  of  the  valley 
of  Pittsburg.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  339,  B.  P.  O, 
Elks;  of  Zion  lodge.  No.  1057,  L  O.  O.  F,  and  of  the  Maccabees, 
the  Heptasophs  and  the  National  Union.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
alumni  of  Western  university,  a  member  of  the  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania medical  club,  also  of  the  Brighton  country  club,  the  Scilorl 
club  and  the  Humboldt  club.  Politically,  he  is  a  republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Union  M.  E.  church  of  Allegheny. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  191 

WILLIAM  WESLEY  WOLFE,  M.D., 
No.  24  North  Diamond  St.,  Allegheny, 
was  born  in  what  was,  at  that  time,  Alle- 
gheny township,  but  now  known  as 
Bethel  township,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  on 
Jan.  16,  1851.  His  parents  were  Noah  C. 
and  Mary  (Patterson)  Wolfe,  the  former 
being  a  native  of  Armstrong  county, 
where  he  was  born,  Nov.  14,  1818,  reared 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  all 
his  life,  dying  at  Kittanning,  Nov.  7, 
1896,  after  a  long  and  useful  career. 
The  mother  of  the  doctor  was  born  in 
Wilmington,  Del.,  May  25,  1818,  and  came  west  of  the  mountains 
with  her  parents  when  she  was  two  years  old.  They  settled  near 
Cannonsburg,  Pa.,  but  her  parents  subsequently  removed  to  Arm- 
strong county,  where  she  met  and  married  Noah  C.  Wolfe,  the 
marriage  taking  place  on  March  9,  1843,  attended  with  the  usual 
festivities  so  popular  in  those  days.  She  survived  her  husband 
until  June  6,  1902,  when  she,  too,  passed  to  her  reward  in  the  great 
beyond.  Their  children  are:  Sarah  Jane,  born  Sept.  29,  1844,  mar- 
ried William  R.  Huston,  Oct.  16,  1872,  and  resides  in  Homestead, 
Pa. ;  Findley  Patterson,  born  Feb.  23,  1846,  practicing  law  in 
Kittanning,  married  Maggie  E.  Mateer,  Nov.  24,  1881;  Perry 
Fleming,  born  Jan.  15,  1848,  married  Cornelia  Beissinger,  March 
13,  1872,  and  died  March  5,  1874;  Joseph  Alcortis,  born  June  22, 
1849,  died  in  February,  1850;  William  Wesley,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Dorcas  Catharine,  born  Dec.  i,  1853.  The  grandparents 
of  Dr.  Wolfe  were  Mathias  G.  and  Sarah  (Wagle)  Wolfe.  The 
former  was  born  May  5,  1788;  married  Sarah  Wagle,  April  13,  1813, 
and  died  in  September,  1867.  Sarah  Wagle  was  born  Sept.  24, 
1 791,  and  died  in  September,  1838.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Catharine,  who  died  in  1895;  Christina,  born  May  22,  1816, 
died  Aug.  29,  1899;  Noah  Calhoun,  father  of  our  subject;  Eliza- 
beth, born  June  21,  1821,  died  Aug.  19,  1889;  Adnam  Robert,  born 
March  21,  1824,  died  in  October,  1900;  Obadiah  L.,  born  May  23, 
1827,  died  in  1892;  Sarah  N.,born  Sept.  8,  1831,  and  residing  in 
Wilkinsburg,  Pa.,  and  the  youngest  child  of  this  marriage  is 
Permanda  A.,  born  April  27,  1834,  now  Mrs.  Fry,  who  resides  in 
Clinton,  Pa.  By  a  second  marriage  with  Maria  (Murphy)  Keesey, 
there  were  the  following  children:  Elmira  M.,  born  Feb.  24, 
1844,    now    Mrs.     Cornman,    residing    in    Kittanning;    Louis    J., 


192  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

born  May  13,  1845;  Solomon  P.,  born  July  2,  1846;  Squire 
D.,  born  March  8,  1849;  Nancy  J.,  born  Feb.  9,  1850,  now 
Mrs.  David  Walters,  residing  at  Ford  City,  Pa.;  Anna  M.,  born 
Dec.  20,  185 1,  now  Mrs.  John  Beatty,  residing  in  Pittsburg. 
W.  W.  Wolfe  acquired  his  primary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Armstrong  county,  after  which  he  taught  school  for 
ten  years  in  Armstrong  and  Clarion  counties.  During  his  last 
years  in  the  school-room,  he  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to  the  study 
of  medicine,  and,  in  1878,  entered  the  Cleveland  homoeopathic 
hospital  college,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  graduated  in  February,  1880, 
receiving  the  degrees  of  M.  D.  and  F.  H.  S.  He  at  once  began 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at  Freeport,  Pa.,  where  he 
soon  acquired  an  extensive  practice,  but  decided  to  locate  in  Alle- 
gheny, and,  since  1884,  he  has  been  in  continuous  practice  there. 
He  is  a  member  of  both  the  State  and  county  homoeopathic 
societies,  and  is  a  member  of  Ionic  lodge.  No.  525,  F.  and  A.  M., 
of  Allegheny;  of  Allegheny  chapter.  No.  217,  and  of  Pittsburg  con- 
sistory and  Allegheny  council.  He  is  a  Shriner;  a  member  of 
Darling  council,  No.  888,  Royal  Arcanum;  Triumph  circle. 
No.  loi.  Protected  Home  Circle;  Guiding  Star  conclave.  No.  273, 
Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs;  Guiosuta  lodge,  Order  of  Iroquois; 
Allegheny  lodge,  Order  of  Americus;  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339, 
B.  P.  O.  Elks;  Allegheny  senate;  Knights  of  Ancient  Essenic 
Order;  Order  of  the  Golden  Rod,  and  council  of  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 
Dr.  Wolfe  is  examining  physician  for  all  of  the  above-named 
orders  except  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  the  Elks  and  the  Essenics.  He  is 
now  serving  as  school  director  for  the  tenth  ward.  On  June  14,  1899, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ada  Byron  Swindell,  of  Alle- 
gheny, the  daughter  of  the  late  William  Swindell.  The  following 
children  bless  this  union:  William  E.,  born  May  22,  1900,  and 
Harold  S.,  born  Sept.  8,  1903.  Dr.  Wolfe's  great-grandfather, 
Jacob  Wolfe,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  a  Revolution- 
ary patriot,  having  served  under  Washington  at  Brandywine  and 
Valley  Forge,  and  fought  in  many  of  the  principal  battles  of  the  Rev- 
olution. He  married  Christina  Kepple,  and  their  children  were: 
George,  Michael,  Mathias  G.,  Jacob,  John,  Christina,  Elizabeth, 
Joseph,  David  and  Solomon.  Jacob  Wolfe  was  a  noted  violinist, 
and  had  the  honor  of  playing  many  times  for  General  Washington. 
A  reunion  of  the  Wolfe  family  was  held  on  Sept.  14,  1888,  at  which 
all  the  living  members  of  the  family  were  present,  and  an  address 
was  delivered  by  Findley  P.  Wolfe,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Kit- 
tanning,  Pa.      This  reunion  was  held  at  the  old  homestead  in  Alle- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  193 

gheny  township,  amid  the  scenes  so  dear  to  the  hearts  of  those  who 
were  reared  there  or  in  that  vicinity,  and  recalled  to  the  succeed- 
ing generations  present  many  traditions  of  hardship  and  toil,  and 
of  perseverance  and  pleasures,  which  attended  the  lives  there  of 
those  illustrious  ancestors,  who  persistently  braved  the  trials  of 
pioneer  life,  that  they  and  their  posterity  might  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
their  toil. 

REV.  JOHN  SZABO,  a  Greek  Catholic 
priest,  was  born,  April   15,  1861,  at  Vul- 

J^^^  ^H^k  sinka,  Ung  Co  ,  Hungary.  He  is  a  son 
^^  «L  ai^^  °^  ^^^  ^^^^  Michael  and  Cecilia  (Fer- 
encsik)  Szabo.  His  father  was  a  priest 
before  him,  and  his  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  Michael  Ferencsik,  late 
bishop's  consultor  in  north  Turicza,  Hun- 
gary. Father  Szabo  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  partly  from  his  father 
and  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town. 
His  higher  education  was  acquired  in 
different  schools.  The  first  four  classes 
were  taken  in  the  Ungvar  gymnasium,  or  college,  the  fifth  in  Iglo, 
the  sixth  in  Szigeth,  the  seventh  in  Kesmark,  and  the  eighth  in 
Rozsnyo,  where  he  received  the  "testimonium  maturitatis,"  or  col- 
lege diploma.  For  the  next  four  years  he  attended  the  theological 
seminary  of  Ungvar,  and  while  in  this  institution  he  distinguished 
himself  by  being  awarded  the  highest  honors  in  oratory.  While  in 
the  seminary  he  was  assigned  as  "cantus  praefectus"  for  one  year 
to  teach  the  church  singing.  On  Sept.  7,  1886,  he  was  married  to 
Amalia  Danilovics,  a  member  of  the  celebrated  priest's  family. 
On  the  26th  of  the  same  month  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood 
by  the  late  Greek  Catholic  bishop,  John  Kovacs  de  Pasztely,  and 
soon  after  his  ordination  he  was  appointed  military  chaplain,  with 
the  rank  of  lieutenant,  by  Emperor  Francis  Joseph.  His  first 
parish,  which  he  held  for  about  eighteen  months,  was  in  Ignecz, 
Hungary.  After  that  he  was  assistant  priest  in  north  Mihaly  for 
three  months,  when  he  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  parish 
of  Hribocz  (Gombas),  near  the  city  of  Munkacs,  Hungary.  He 
remained  in  charge  of  this  parish  for  three  and  one-half  years, 
when  he  came  to  America,  through  the  effort  of  a  lifelong  friend, 
Rev.  Eugene  Volkay,  of  Pleasant  City,  Ohio,  landing  in  the  United 
States  on  July   16,  1892.     At  that  time   there  were  only   twelve 

1-13 


194  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Greek  Catholic  missionaries  in  the  United  States.  Now  there  are 
sixty  pastors  and  many  fine  churches  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
His  first  work  after  arriving  in  this  country  was  at  Trenton,  N.  J., 
where  he  settled  and  where  he  organized  a  Greek  Catholic  congre- 
gation and  erected  a  fine  brick  church.  While  stationed  at  Trenton 
he  also  organized  the  first  Greek  Catholic  congregation  of  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.  After  about  fourteen  months  at  Trenton,  he  removed  to 
Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  and  took  charge  of  the  Greek  Catholics  of 
seven  counties.  About  this  time  he  became  the  principal  mover" 
in  the  organization  of  societies  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
known  as  the  "Greek  Catholic  Union,"  which  has  a  membership 
now  of  over  12,000.  In  this  work  and  other  missionary  work,  he 
visited  all  the  eastern  States  as  far  as  Salem,  Mass.  He  traveled 
as  far  south  as  Birmingham,  Ala.  ;  west  to  Denver  and  Pueblo, 
Col. ;  to  Whiting  and  Diamond,  Ind.,  and  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
also  through  West  Virginia.  Reports  of  his  work  at  these  points 
were  published  in  the  Hungarian  papers,  such  as  the  Gorog  Kathol- 
ikus  Szemle,  the  Listok,  and  the  Karpati  Lapok,  the  same  being 
edited  in  his  native  country.  He  remained  at  Punxsutawney  for 
seven  and  a  half  years,  building  a  church  and  parish  house  during 
his  stay.  It  was  while  here  that  he  took  out  his  naturalization 
papers  in  the  Brookville  court-house,  and  became  an  American 
citizen.  On  July  7,  1901,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Pittsburg, 
where  he  has  charge  of  a  Greek  Catholic  church  on  the  South  Side, 
located  on  Carson  street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets.  This 
congregation  numbers  about  500  families  with  a  total  membership 
of  nearly  5,000  people,  most  of  whom  are  from  the  mother  country 
of  Hungary.  In  1902  the  church  had  a  jubilee  celebration,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  tenth  anniversary  of  Father  Szabo's  arrival  in  this 
country.  Father  Szabo  and  his  wife  have  seven  children — four 
boys  and  three  girls.  The  boys  are:  Nicholas,  Alexius,  Dionisius 
and  John.  The  girls  are  named  Yolande,  Irene  and  Magdalena. 
Nicholas  is  attending  St.  Vincent's  college,  Latrobe,  Pa.,  and  the 
others  are  students  in  the  Pittsburg  schools.  Of  the  seven  chil- 
dren, three — Nicholas,  Yolande  and  Alexius — were  born  in  Hun- 
gary, the  others  being  born  in  this  country.  A  brother  of  Father 
Szabo,  the  Very  Rev.  Orestes  Szabo,  is  the  rural  dean  of  district 
Szt.  Miklosiensis,  in  Seleszto,  Hungary,  where  he  also  has  a  sister, 
Mrs.  Maria  Petricska.  Father  Szabo  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  speaks  several  European  languages.  Through  his 
influence  his  brothers-in-law — Rev.  Basilius  Volosin,  pastor  of  the 
Greek    Catholic   church    at    Passaic,   N.   J. ;  Rev.   John    Hrabar,   a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  195 

Greek  Catholic  priest  of  Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  John  Danilovics, 
theologian  of  the  Dunwoodie  seminary,  of  New  York,  and  some 
others — have  been  induced  to  come  to  this  country.  He  is  very 
enthusiastic  over  his  newly-adopted  country,  for  Puritan  customs 
and  humane  institutions,  for  freedom  of  religion,  and  from  the 
pulpit  he  often  advises  his  people  to  become  Americanized  and  to 
bless  the  Almighty  that  He  gave  to  mankind  the  glorious  "land  of 
the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

^^^^^^  PROF.    FRED    F.   WILCOX,   No.    19 

^^^^^Hpl^^^  Montgomery  Ave.,  East,   in   the   city  of 

^^^|HP^  ^^^  Allegheny,  is  attracting  considerable 
^^^^l^^te^^^^  attention  on  account  of  the  success  he  is 
^^^^^^^^■Hr^^B  having  in  the  treatment  of  diseases 
^^^^^^^JHji^J^^H  through  magnetic  healing.  He  was  born 
^^^^H^HK^^^^^P  and  reared  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula  Co., 
^^^^H^HP^ J^Hb  Ohio,  on  July  9,  1855.  Calvin  C.  and 
^^^^^^Jf  ^^^^V  Emily  A.  Wilcox,  old  and  respected  resi- 
^^^^V^>  T^^Bm  dents  of  Ashtabula  county,  were  his  par- 
^^^^^  ^^^^  ents.      Professor     Wilcox     acquired     his 

^^^■i^^^^  earlier  education   in   Geneva's  excellent 

public  schools.  After  arriving  at  the  age 
when  all  young  men  are  usually  anxious  to  get  out  into  the  world 
and  make  their  mark,  Mr.  Wilcox  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  at 
railroading  in  the  west,  and  although  successful,  he  finally  con- 
cluded that  the  transient  nature  of  his  work  would  never  permit 
him  to  permanently  locate  in  any  one  place;  therefore,  he  resigned 
his  position  and  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  in 
which  he  was  successfully  engaged  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  for  twelve 
years.  As  he  had  discovered,  some  time  prior  to  disposing  of  his 
business  in  Ashtabula,  that  he  possessed  unusual  magnetic  power 
in  curing  disease,  he  decided  to  thenceforth  devote  his  whole  time 
to  the  practice  of  magnetic  healing,  and,  until  1899,  among  his 
friends  and  acquaintances  of  a  lifetime  in  Ashtabula,  he  demon- 
strated beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  his  remarkable  power  to  cure 
the  afiPiicted,  as  numerous  testimonials  will  prove.  Desiring  a 
larger  field,  he  determined  to  locate  in  Allegheny,  and,  since  1901, 
he  has  successfully  practiced  his  profession  there.  He  is  a  member 
of  Geneva  lodge.  No.  334,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Geneva,  Ohio.  Professor 
Wilcox  might  be  termed  a  socialist,  from  a  political  standpoint, 
but  he  rarely  takes  any  especial  interest  in  politics. 


196 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


GEORGE  L.  SUTTER,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  leading  attorney-at-law,  with  offices 
at  No.  409  Grant  St.,  is  a  native  of  Pitts- 
burg, born  Dec.  15,  1874,  son  of  Louis 
and  Amelia  (Zeigler)  Sutter,  both  born 
in  Pittsburg,  and  now  residing  at  Beaver 
Falls,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.  George  L.  Sutter 
acquired  his  rudimentary  education  in 
the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Beaver 
Falls,  Pa.,  and  later  matriculated  at 
Geneva  college,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1894,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
science.  He  studied  law  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  was  graduated  from  that 
excellent  institution  in  1898.  Mr.  Sutter  was  admitted  to  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  in  December,  1898,  and  since  has  been  continu- 
ously in  the  practice  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all 
courts  and  has  a  remunerative  practice.  He  was  married  in  Pitts- 
burg, June  II,  1902,  to  Emma  C,  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Ruske,  and  their  wedded  life  has  been  one  of  ideal 
felicity.  Mr.  Sutter  is  a  member  of  Beaver  Valley  lodge.  No.  478, 
of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  closely  identified 
with  that  great  order. 


§REV.  STANLEY  JASTRZEMBSKI, 
pastor  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
Roman  Catholic  church  of  Carnegie,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lomza  city,  Russian  Poland, 
Nov.  17,  1872,  and  is  the  son  of  Anthony 
and  Joanna  (Kowalska)  Jastrzembski. 
After  attending  the  primary  schools  of 
his  own  town,  he  spent  eight  years  at  the 
classic  gymnasium,  or  high  school,  and 
then  entered  the  theological  and  philo- 
sophical seminary  of  Sejny,  Poland,  where 
he  remained  until  he  completed  the  five- 
year  course.  In  1896  he  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Casimir  Ruszkiewicz,  the 
ceremony  taking  place  in  the  city  of  Warsaw.  His  first  charge 
was  as  assistant  priest  in  Turoil,  Poland,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years,  and  for  the  next  two  years  he  occupied  a  similar  posi- 
tion at  Biatszewo.      By  permission  of  Bishop  Anthony  Baranowski, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  197 

of  the  diocese  of  Sejny,  Father  Jastrzembski  came  to. the  United 
States,  landing  in  this  country  on  June  25,  1902.  For  the  first 
three  months  after  his  arrival  here  he  was  assistant  priest  at  St. 
Josaphat's  Roman  Catholic  church,  on  the  South  Side  of  the  city 
of  Pittsburg.  From  there  he  was  transferred  to  St.  Francis  de 
Paul's  rectory,  at  Ford  City,  Pa.,  as  an  assistant  priest.  Five 
months  afterwards  he  came  to  Carnegie  to  take  charge  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  church,  where  he  is  now  stationed  and 
where  his  labors  are  being  crowned  with  success. 

STROMAS  B..  SCANDRETT,  director 
of  the  department  of  public  safety  of 
Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  was  born  in  that 
city,  in  1859,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
has  been  identified  with  some  of  its  lead- 
ing mercantile  institutions.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  A.  and  Mary  A.  Scandrett, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Allegheny 
city.  In  1868,  while  Thomas  was  in 
attendance  at  the  third  ward  public 
school,  his  father  was  appointed  warden 
of  the  Allegheny  county  jail  for  four 
years,  and  the  family  removed  to  Pitts- 
burg. In  187 1  the  boy  finished  his  education  in  the  second  ward 
school  of  Pittsburg,  and  soon  afterwards  went  to  work  for  Joseph 
D.  Weeks.  Later  he  entered  the  employ  of  W.  C.  Armor,  a  prom- 
inent merchant,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1880,  when  he  went 
to  the  Goodwin  Bros.,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  as  boss  warehouse- 
man and  shipper  in  their  crockery  establishment.  He  stayed  with 
the  Goodwins  until  1884,  when  he  came  back  to  Pittsburg  as 
general  manager  for  D.  P.  Collins,  of  the  Pioneer  five  and  ten-cent 
store.  This  position  he  held  a  number  of  years,  but  finally  left  it 
to  accept  a  place  with  the  Star  Union  Line  railroad  as  clerk.  On 
April  6,  1903,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  of  director 
of  public  safety.  In  1886  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  K.  Moore, 
of  Alliance,  Ohio,  and  one  daughter,  Mary  K.,  has  been  born  to 
them.  Mr.  Scandrett  is  a  member  of  Riddle  lodge.  No.  315,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  movements  of  his  party.  He  resides 
in  the  third  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  at  No.  1308  Esplanade  St. 


198  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

^^^^^^  REV.  AUG.  A.  VOGT,  associate  priest 

^^^^HVH^^  at  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  church, 

^^^BpW*^^^^^k         Mt.    Olivet,    Pa.,  is    a    native    of    Dahm, 

^^^^^L^  '^^L       Westphalia,    Germany,     where     he     was 

^^^^HH^f      i^^A      born    Jan.    26,    1875.      His   parents  were 

^^^^^HB  >i^^B     Frank  and  Elizabeth  Vogt,  both  of  whom 

^^^^^|Bn|    J^^^B     were  Westphalians.      Father  Vogt  began 

^^^^^^^^"W^^M      ]^jg  education  by  an  attendance  of  seven 

^^^^^^^*    ^^^m       years    in    the   parish  schools  of    Helden, 

^^^^Hjl^l^^^^^        Westphalia,    after   which   he  spent  three 

^^^^^^^^^^^r  years   in   the   gymnasium  at  Attendoen, 

^^^^^^^^r  'and,  in    1893,  he  came  to  America.     He 

finished  his  collegiate  education  by  a  two- 

and-one-half-year   course   at    Herman,  Butler   Co.,  Pa.      He    then 

took  a  two-year  course  in  philosophy  and  a  three-year  course  in 

theology  at  St.  Mary's  seminary,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and,  on  July  7, 

1900,  was   ordained   in   the  priesthood   at   St.    Vincent's   college, 

Pittsburg,   Pa.     Since    that    time   he  has  been  associate  priest  at 

St.  Joseph's  church,  where  he  has  made  many  friends 

JOHN  E.  KUHN,  whose  office  is  at 
No.  435  Diamond  St.,  is  a  member  of  the 
Allegheny  county  bar  and  a  native  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Versailles  town- 
ship, Aug.  6,  1845,  where  his  father,  the 
late  David  Kuhn,  then  resided.  His 
mother  was  Jane  (Cavan)  Kuhn.  Mr. 
Kuhn  acquired  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  afterwards  attended  the 
Wooster  university,  Wooster,  Ohio,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1871. 
He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  James  J. 
Kuhn,  of  Pittsburg,  and,  on  Jan.  6,  1874, 
was  duly  admitted  to  practice  at  the  Allegheny  county  bar,  and 
has  since  continued  in  active  practice  in  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  the  courts  and  the  county  bar  association.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Pittsburg,  on  June  12,  1879,  to  Miss  Bella  Arthurs.  They 
have  but  one  child,  James  J.  Mr.  Kuhn  is  a  member  of  Shady 
Side  Presbyterian  church.  He  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward,  and 
is  a  republican  in  politics. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  199 

JAMES  DICKSON,  gardener  on  Ne- 
ville island,  was  born  April  30,  1822,  on 
Prince    Edward    island,  and    is  a  son   of 

t  William  and  Jane  Dickson.      He  came  to 

iMg^  America  with  his  parents  in  infancy,  the 

*  family  landing  at  Philadelphia  and  going 

*^  thence    by    wagon    to     Pittsburg.       The 

father,  William  Dickson,  a  Scotchman  by 
birth,  married  Jane  Patterson,  and  had 
by  this  union  six  children :  David,  Wil- 
liam, Peter,  Margaret  J.,  Mary  Anne  and 
James.  Of  these,  only  two  are  living, 
Margaret  J.  and  the  subject  of  this 
JAMES  DICKSON.  gkctch.       WilHam    Dickson    was   a    car- 

penter b)''  trade,  an  excellent  mechanic,  and  helped  erect  many 
buildings  in  Pittsburg.  He  died  in  Alleglieny  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  His  wife,  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  died  in  Pittsburg. 
James  Dickson  began  to  work  at  gardening  on  Neville  island  at  an 
early  age,  and  afterwards  went  into  business  for  himself.  The 
firm  of  James  Dickson  &  Sons,  gardeners,  does  now  the  most 
extensive  business  of  the  kind  in  Allegheny  county,  making  large 
shipments  to  New  York,  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburg.  They  grow  the  finest 
asparagus  in  the  market,  and  had  the 
honor  of  supplying  the  asparagus  for 
Prince  Henry's  banquet  in  Chicago  in 
1902.  Their  other  principal  products  are 
rhubarb,  lettuce  and  cucumbers.  James 
Dickson  was  married,  Oct.  13,  1842,  to 
Miss  Mary  Hamilton,  daughter  of  David 
and  Mary  Hamilton,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  viz.  :  William,  Mary  Anne, 
Jane  P.,  Lizzie,  David,  John,  Emma  J., 
A.  «.  uicKsoN.  Maggie  L.,  Algernon    B.,  Finley  S.  and 

Wilson  C.  They  have  forty-two  grandchildren  and  twenty-eight 
great-grandchildren.  There  have  been  only  three  deaths  in  the 
Dickson  family  in  the  past  sixty  years.  Mrs.  Dickson  was  born 
on  Neville  island,  Oct.  15,  1822.  Mr.  Dickson  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  respected  citizens  of  the  county,  and  has  always  been  a 
prominent  man  in  his  community,  having  held  all  the  offices  in  his 
township.     He  was  formerly  an  ardent  whig,  a  supporter  of  Henry 


200  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Clay  and  William  H,  Harrison,  and  since  the  death  of  the  whig 
party  has  been  a  loyal  republican.  He  is  a  Presbyterian  in  relig- 
ious belief,  and,  with  his  wife,  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Neville 
Island  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  prominent  and  enthusiastic 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  Shriner.  He 
and  his  wife,  both  now  eighty-two  years  old,  are  still  hale  and 
hearty.     They  have  lived  happily  together  for  over  sixty  years. 

Algernon  B.  Dickson,  who  is  manager  of  the  firm  of  James 
Dickson  &  Sons,  is  a  son  of  James  Dickson,  and  one  of  the  promi- 
nent young  men  of  Allegheny  county.  He  was  born  on  Neville 
island,  Nov.  12,  1863,  and  was  educated  in  the  township  schools. 
Like  his  father,  he  is  actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Neville 
township,  in  which  he  has  held  various  public  offices.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Neville  island,  in 
which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  North  American 
bank  of  Pittsburg,  and  in  the  Frank  H.  Hieber  wagon  manufactur- 
ing company  of  McKee's  Rocks,  the  Coraopolis  industrial  supply 
company  and  the  Masonic  hall  association  of  Allegheny  city.  Pa. 
He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  member  of  McKinley  lodge, 
No.  318,  of  Allegheny:  Duquesne  chapter,  No.  193,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  Pittsburg  commandery.  No.  i,  K.  T.  ;  of  Pennsylvania  sov- 
ereign grand  consistory,  S.  P.  R.  S..  valley  of  Pittsburg,  thirty- 
second  degree;  of  Syria  temple,  A.  A.  N.  O.  M.  S.  Mr.  Dickson 
was  married,  on  June  28,  1893,  to  Miss  Lida  S.  Means,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Eliza  Means,  of  Allegheny  city.  Robert  Means  was 
for  thirty-five  years  an  employe  of  the  Wayne  iron  and  steel  works, 
was  an  ardent  temperance  worker,  a  man  of  excellent  character, 
and  in  politics  an  influential  democrat.  He  died  June  2,  1900. 
He  was  married,  June  12,  1845,  to  Miss  Eliza  S.  Wood,  of  Pitts- 
burg, daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Wood.  Samuel  Wood  was 
in  his  day  a  well-known  Pittsburg  business  man.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Robert  Means  were  born  eleven  children,  of  whom  four,  besides 
Mrs.  Algernon  B.  Dickson,  are  living,  viz. :  Minerva,  Edward, 
Samuel  and  Sarah.  Mrs.  Means  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  April  29, 
1822,  and  was  educated  in  the  third  ward  school  of  Pittsburg, 
under  Mrs.  Adeline  Whitter,  principal  of  the  girls'  department. 
Mrs.  Means  died  April  28,  1898. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  201 

FRED  W.  PATTERSON,  chief  road 
engineer  of  Allegheny  county,  is  the 
son  of  John  W.  and  Almina  (Wendt)  Pat- 
terson, and  was  born  in  what  is  known  as 
South  Side,  or  Birmingham,  Pittsburg, 
Jan.  29,  i860.  Among  the  first  pioneers 
in  Allegheny  county  was  his  great- great- 
grandfather, Nathaniel  Patterson,  born 
in  Culpepper  county,  Va.,  in  1729. 
who  accompanied  General  Washington 
to  this  point  when  he  made  his  first 
perilous  trip  across  the  mountains  with 
a  surveying  party.  He  was  an  assist- 
ant surveyor  to  Washington  in  that  expedition,  and  aided  in 
establishing  the  original  survey  in  this  vicinity.  The  French  and 
Indian  war  coming  on,  the  party  was  compelled  to  return  to  Vir- 
ginia and  get  ready  for  the  conflict  which  was  to  decide  the  owner- 
ship of  this  disputed  territory.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  or 
about  1760,  he  returned  to  this  locality  with  his  family  and  settled 
near  Dravosburg,  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he  died,  Aug.  9,  1795. 
The  farm  on  which  he  settled  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants.  His  son,  Andrew  Patterson,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Va.,  in  1755,  and  came 
to  MitBin  township  with  his  father.  He  became  a  surveyor  of 
note,  and  died  in  1808.  His  son,  Nathaniel  Patterson,  the  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Mifflin  township  in 
1795.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812  as  corporal  in  a  regiment 
known  as  the  "Pittsburg  Blues."  was  a  surveyor  by  profession, 
and  was  elected  recorder  of  Allegheny  county  in  1859.  As  stated 
in  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  John  W.  Patterson  and  Almina 
(Wendt)  Patterson  were  the  parents  of  Fred  W.  Patterson,  the 
former,  John  W.,  being  born  in  Chartiers  township,  Allegheny 
county,  on  May  4,  1835,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  On 
the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Civil  war,  he  offered  his  services  in 
defense  of  the  Union,  and  was  made  colonel  of  the  io2d  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  He  participated  with  his  com- 
mand in  many  hotly-contested  engagements,  but  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  on  May  5,  1864.  The  G.  A.  R.  post. 
No.  151,  of  Pittsburg,  was  named  in  honor  of  him.  Fred  W. 
Patterson  received  his  earlier  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Pittsburg;  later  he  completed  a  course  in  civil  engineering-  at  the 
Western   University  of   Pennsylvania,  after   which   he   accepted   a 


202  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

position  with  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  company,  and  remained 
with  them  until  1887,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of  chief  engi- 
neer with  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie  railroad,  which  he  filled  until 
1889.  He  then  engaged  with  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  as 
engineer  of  maintenance  of  way  for  its  Pittsburg  division,  which 
position  he  held  until  elected  city  engineer  of  McKeesport,  in  1891, 
where  for  six  years,  or  until  appointed  to  his  present  position,  he 
faithfully  served  his  constituency.  Since  1897,  when  he  became 
chief  road  engineer  of  Allegheny  county,  he  has  accomplished 
wonderful  improvements  in  the  development  of  the  public  high- 
ways, and  the  wisdom  of  his  selection  for  that  important  position 
has  been  fully  demonstrated.  In  New  Brighton,  on  June  11,  1885, 
occurred  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Searight,  an  estimable 
young  lady  of  that  place.  They  have  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  John  W.,  who  is  at  present  a  cadet  at  the  New 
York  military  academy,  and  David  F.  Mr.  Patterson  joined  the 
Masonic  order  in  1881,  and  became  a  member  of  Tancred  com- 
mandery  in  1887,  and  a  Shriner  in  the  same  year.  We  have 
briefly  compiled  in  this  sketch  a  few  facts  pertaining  to  the  life 
and  ancestry  of  one  of  Allegheny  county's  native  sons,  who,  reared 
here,  is  devoting  the  best  efl;orts  of  his  life  in  behalf  of  her  people 
and  the  generations  to  follow. 

REV.     THEOFAN     A.     OBUSHKE- 

/^    "*N.  VICH,  a  Greek  Catholic  priest,  who  has 

^  been     located     at     Carnegie,     Pa.,  since 

-r    '^  i^mm  April,  1903,  was  born  in  Zydnia,  Galicia, 

*'<#^W  Austria,    Sept.    12,    1841.       His    parents 

-^"^^W  were    Alexander   and    Euphrosina    (Pry- 

,^^g^^^  slopski)    Obushkevich.      Twelve  years  of 

^|H^^ ^^^^^^ll      his  life  were  spent  in  school — four  years 

^^^^^H^^^^^V      in  the  public  schools,  four  years  in  the 

^^^^^^^^^^^^m        college   at    Eperies,    Hungary,   and    four 

^^^^^^^^^^^r  years  in  the  theological  colleges  of  Lem- 

^^^^^^^^^  berg  and  Przemysl.     He  was  ordained  a 

priest  on  April  6,  1867.     Shortly  after  his 

ordination   he  was   given   the   charge   of   a   parish   at    Radocyna, 

Galicia,  Austria,  and  remained  there  for  three  years.     His  second 

parish  was  at  Rostoki,  where  his  charge  lasted  three  years.     Next 

he  was  for  twelve  years  in  charge  of  the  parish  of  Hanczowa, 

Galicia,  Austria.     After  this  he  was  for  four  years  at  Uscicruskie, 

Galicia,  Austria,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came  to  the  United 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  203 

States,  landing  in  this  country  on  July  i,  1889.  Since  coming  to 
this  country  his  work  has  been  divided  among  the  following  par- 
ishes: one  year  at  Shamokin,  Pa.  ;  six  years  at  Olyphant,  Pa. ;  five 
years  at  Mayfield,  Pa. ;  six  months  at  Mahanoy  City,  Pa  ,  and  since 
April  10,  1903,  he  has  been  in  charge  of  the  Greek  Catholic  con- 
gregation at  Carnegie,  Pa  ,  where  he  has  already  taken  the  prelimi- 
nary steps  toward  the  building  of  a  large  church.  Father 
Obushkevich  has  inherited  to  a  great  degree  his  love  for  his  chosen 
calling,  as  his  father  was  a  prominent  priest  in  Galicia,  Austria. 

WILLIAM  F.  ZOELLER,  member 
and  chairman  of  the  Knoxville  council, 
and  a  prominent  wholesale  liquor  dealer 
of  Pittsburg,  was  born,  in  1859,  in  East 
Birmingham,  now  the  twenty-sixth  ward 
of  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  His  parents, 
John  and  Fredericka  Zoeller,  were  both 
natives  of  Germany.  The  former  died 
in  1887,  and  the  latter,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six,  is  now  living  with  her  son. 
Mr.  Zoeller's  paternal  grandfather  came 
to  this  country  from  Wiirtemberg,  Ger- 
many, in  1832,  and  located  in  Allegheny 
county,  on  a  farm  which  is  now  partly  owned  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  William  F.  Zoeller  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  ward,  after  which  he  attended  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania  for  two  years.  He  then 
learned  the  bakers'  trade,  which  he  followed  for  five  years  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg.  About  the  time  he  reached  his  majority  he 
became  associated  with  Jacob  Gommel  in  the  wholesale  liquor 
business.  The  firm  handled  several  specialities,  the  foremost 
among  them  being  Swiss  stomach  bitters  (first  prepared  by  Dr. 
Arnold  Koch  in  1870)  and  black  gin.  In  1886  Mr.  Gommel  died, 
and  since  that  time  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Mr. 
Zoeller.  The  trade  of  the  house  has  increased  from  year  to 
year,  until  its  goods  are  distributed  all  over  the  United  States  by 
jobbers,  and  a  number  of  traveling  men  are  employed.  Mr. 
Zoeller  also  makes  a  wild-cherry  tonic  and  a  cough  cure  that  meet 
with  popular  favor  wherever  they  are  introduced.  In  the  midst  of 
all  his  business  cares,  Mr.  Zoeller  finds  some  time  to  devote  to  the 
general  good  of  the  community.  Politically,  he  is  a  republican,  as 
were  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him.     His  election  to  the 


204  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

council  attests  his  popularity  with  his  neighbors,  and  his  elevation 
to  the  chairmanship  of  that  body  shows  that  his  fellow  councilmen 
have  full  confidence  in  his  integrity  and  executive  ability.  Besides 
his  duties  as  councilman  and  the  demands  of  his  wholesale  liquor 
trade,  he  is  a  director  and  first  vice-president  of  the  St.  Clair  sav- 
ings and  trust  company.  Mr.  Zoeller's  wife  was  Miss  Carrie 
Dowden,  a  daughter  of  B.  A.  Dowden,  of  Pittsburg.  They  have 
four  children:  Karl  W. ,  aged  twenty- two  years,  and  traveling  for 
his  father's  firm;  Joseph  Roy,  aged  seventeen;  Carrie  F. ,  aged  six- 
teen, and  Robert  F..  aged  nine.  Mr.  Zoeller  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  In  all  his  business 
transactions  he  has  been  punctual  in  the  performance  of  his 
promises,  and  his  standing  in  business  and  political  circles  to-day 
is  due  to  his  square  dealing  and  to  the  fact  that  he  never  betrayed 
a  friend. 

JOHN  FITE,  the  proprietor  of  the 
Elgin  butter,  cheese  and  egg  house,  at 
Nos.  537  to  545  Liberty  Ave.,  Pittsburg, 
is  well  known  in  mercantile  circles.  His 
father,  George  Fite,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, but  came  to  America  in  1843  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  McKees- 
port,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born,  Sept.  9,  1846.  In  the  schools  of 
McKeesport  he  received  the  major  part 
of  his  education,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  went  into  a  general  store  at 
McKeesport  as  a  clerk.  During  the  eight 
years  he  remained  in  this  position  he  learned  many  things  concern- 
ing the  business  of  buying  and  selling  goods.  When  he  was  about 
twenty-two  years  old  he  came  to  Pittsburg  as  a  salesman  in  the 
dry-goods  store  of  Love  Bros.,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market 
streets.  He  remained  with  this  firm  for  about  twelve  years,  when 
he  decided  to  go  into  business  for  himself.  Starting  with  a  small 
capital,  he  began  selling  Elgin  creamery  butter  and  cheese  to 
dealers.  From  this  humble  beginning  he  has  managed,  by  inde- 
fatigable industry  and  the  application  of  modern  business  methods, 
to  build  up  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  houses  in  his  line  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  doing  a  volume  of  business  of  more  than  $1,000,000 
annually.  While  living  at  McKeesport  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth    Gorthardt,    and   to   the  marriage  seven   children  were 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  205 

born,  of  whom  three  sons  and  two  daughters  are  still  living.  The 
sons  all  occupy  responsible  positions  in  their  father's  business. 
W.  G.  Fite  is  the  credit  man  of  the  house,  Charles  J.  is  the  princi- 
pal buyer,  and  Frank  S.  is  the  floor  manager.  One  daughter, 
Luella  M.,  is  married,  and  the  other,  Clara  M.,  is  living  with  her 
parents  at  home.  Mr.  Fite  is  also  the  owner  of  considerable  real 
estate  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  Most  of  his  property  is  located  in 
the  East  End,  in  the  vicinity  of  Highland  Park  and  Jeannette. 
Notwithstanding  the  demands  of  his  constantly  growing  business, 
he  still  finds  time  to  attend  to  church  duties  and  indulge  in  social 
intercourse.  His  entire  family  are  members  of  the  Bethany 
Lutheran  church  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  being  a  member  of  Pittsburg  lodge,  No.  508,  Pittsburg 
consistory  of  the  Scottish  Rite,  and  Syria  temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  Politically,  he  is  a  loyal  republican,  though  he  rarely 
takes  an  active  part  in  the  contests  of  the  political  arena,  prefer- 
ring to  give  his  attention  to  his  business,  and  the  visitor  to  the 
Elgin  butter,  cheese  and  o.'gg  house  never  fails  to  come  away  with 
the  impression  that  it  is  one  of  the  best  conducted  mercantile  con- 
cerns in  the  great  and  busy  city  of  Pittsburg. 

®  HENRY  M.  DAVIDSON,  attorney-at- 
law,  with  offices  at  Nos.  618  and  619  Bake- 
well  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  a  native 
of  West  Deer  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa  ,  where  he  was  born  in  1870  He  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Davidson,  well- 
known  residents  of  West  Deer  township. 
His  mother  died  in  1877.  Mr.  Davidson 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
spent  two  years  in  the  Pennsylvania  State 
college,  and  graduated  from  the  Western 
University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1891. 
While  attending  college  and  the  univer- 
sity, he  worked  as  a  civil  engineer  during  vacations.  In  June, 
1891,  he  took  the  preliminary  examinations  to  read  law  with  the 
Allegheny  law  association,  and  was  at  once  appointed  clerk  of  the 
association.  During  the  two  years  that  he  served  as  clerk  he  pros- 
ecuted his  legal  studies,  and,  in  1893,  was- admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Pittsburg,  locating  at  No.  435 
Diamond  St.,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to  his  present 
location.     Politically,  Mr.  Davidson  is  a  republican,  and,  in  1899, 


206  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

he  was  elected  to  the  common  council  of  Allegheny  city,  represent- 
ing the  second  ward  of  that  municipality,  in  which  he  resides. 
Two  years  later  he  was  triumphantly  re-elected,  and  before  the 
expiration  of  his  second  term  he  was  made  secretary  of  the  citizens* 
organization  of  Allegheny  city.  On  May  6,  1903,  he  was  appointed 
collector  of  delinquent  taxes  for  Allegheny  city,  which  position  he 
still  holds.  He  was  married,  in  1900,  to  Miss  Amelia  Shaffer,  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  they  have  one  child,  an  infant  son.  Mr. 
Davidson  has  a  good  law  practice,  and  in  his  private  business  he 
enjoys  the  entire  confidence  of  his  clients,  as  in  his  official  capacity 
he  enjoys  the  full  support  and  trust  of  his  constituents. 

CHARLES  A.  ANDERSON,  a  promi- 
nent banker  and  manufacturer  of  Brad- 
dock,  was  born  in  what  is  now  the  fourth 
ward,  Pittsburg,  Nov.  7,  1862.  His 
father,  Joseph  N.  Anderson,  was  a  son  of 
Renix  and  Sarah  (Nelson)  Anderson, 
and  a  grandson  of  James  Anderson,  an 
Irishman  who  emigrated  to  America. 
Joseph  N.  Anderson  was  a  prominent 
hotel  keeper  of  Pittsburg,  giving  up  the 
business  in  1872,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  Aug.  9,  1890,  was  a  director  in  the 
Braddock  National  bank  and  Pittsburg 
National  Commercial  bank.  Ann  Eliza  Anderson,  the  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  daughter  of  George  H.  Bell, 
sister  of  Mrs.  Allen  Kirkpatrick  and  Mrs.  George  H.  Chalfant,  and 
a  descendant  of  James  Bell,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 
He  is  now  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  graveyard  at  Hunterstown, 
Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  about  three  miles  from  the  town  of  Gettysburg, 
having  this  inscription  on  his  tombstone:  "Here  lies  James  Bell,  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  aged  ninety  years."  James  Bell  came 
from  Ireland  to  this  country  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years,  and 
settled  in  Chester  county,  Pa.  His  father  and  brothers  were  tories, 
or  King  George  men.  When  the  Revolutionary  war  started,  James 
ran  away  from  home  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  enlisted  in 
the  Colonial  army.  Mr.  Bell,  being  a  first-class  penman,  was 
appointed  clerk  at  General  Knox's  headquarters.  General  Knox 
being  chief  of  artillery  He  fought  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth, 
and  was  very  well  acquainted  with  Mollie  Pitcher,  of  Revolutionary 
fame.      He  married  Rebecca  Horner,  of  Hunterstown,  immediately 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  207 

after  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Bell  lost  all  trace  of  his  family 
during  the  war;  some  years  after  he  heard  indirectly  that  they 
were  living  in  Washington  county,  Pa.  Starting  on  horseback,  he 
rode  all  the  way  out  there,  only  to  find  that  several  months  before 
they  had  started  on  a  flatboat  down  the  Ohio  river  to  settle  at  some 
place  in  Kentucky.  He  never  heard  of  them  again.  Charles  A. 
Anderson  received  an  education  in  the  Pittsburg  schools,  and  when 
nineteen  years  old,  started  in  the  hotel  business.  In  May,  1890,  he 
became  a  partner  and  treasurer  of  the  Shook- Anderson  manufac- 
turing company,  of  Pittsburg.  On  Nov.  i,  1900,  this  company 
consolidated  with  Atwood  «&  McCaffery,  Pittsburg  valve  and 
machine  company,  pipe-fitting  department  of  the  Wilson-Snyder 
manufacturing  company,  and  A.  Spear  &  Sons'  foundry,  under  the 
name  of  the  Pittsburg  valve,  foundry  and  construction  company. 
The  new  company  employs  over  600  men  in  the  manufacture  of 
valves  and  general  fittings,  rolling  mill  and  blast  furnace  supplies, 
the  output  going  to  every  State  in  the  Union  and  many  foreign 
countries.  Mr.  Anderson  is  treasurer  of  the  consolidated  company, 
and  is  also  director  in  the  Braddock  National  bank,  which  is  rated 
as  one  of  the  strongest  banks  in  the  country.  Mr.  Anderson  was 
a  school  director  in  Braddock  township  before  the  organization  of 
North  Braddock  as  a  borough,  and  has  been  since  that  time  an 
active  member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  married,  Nov  12, 
1885,  to  Miss  Katherine  McKinney,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Katherine  (Laman)  McKinney,  old  settlers  in  what  is  now  the  first 
ward  of  North  Braddock.  Bessemer  station  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  was  formerly  called  McKinney's  station,  after  Mr. 
McKinney.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Anderson 
are:  William  John  McKinney,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charles  A.,  Jr., 
born  Sept.  11,  1888;  Margaret  Virginia,  born  Jan.  5,  1891; 
Katherine,  born  Oct.  26,  1892;  Robert  Nelson,  a  twin  brother  of 
Katherine,  and  Martha,  born  March  16,  1895.  Mr.  Anderson 
erected,  in  1890,  a  handsome  stone  and  brick  mansion  on  Bell 
avenue,  and  there  resided  until  August,  1903,  when  he  removed  to 
his  new  home,  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Farragut  streets, 
nineteenth  ward,  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Anderson  and  wife,  also  Virginia 
and  Charles  A.,  Jr.,  are  members  of  the  Braddock  United  Presby- 
terian church.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  republican  in  national  politics, 
but  votes  without  regard  to  party  lines  in  municipal  elections. 


208 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


EDWARD  J.  McILVAIN.  director  of 
the  department  of  public  works  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burg in  the  year  1858,  in  what  Was  known 
as  Bayard's  Town.  His  education  was 
chiefly  obtained  in  what  was  then  the  old 
fifth  ward  school.  Leaving  school,  he 
learned  the  trade  of  bricklaying;  after 
serving  his  apprenticeship  and  working 
at  the  trade,  he  started,  in  1878,  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  general  contractor, 
later  becoming  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Sloan  &  Mcllvain,  the  firm  doing  a  large 
amount  of  municipal  work  for  the  cities  of  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny 
and  the  surrounding  boroughs.  About  the  time  he  began  the  con- 
tracting business  he  was  married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mcllvain  have 
two  children  living:  Anna  Loretta,  who  is  the  wife  of  Norman 
McFerron,  and  a  son,  Edward  Taylor  Mcllvain.  Mr.  Mcllvain  has 
been  connected  with  various  other  industries  besides  the  contract- 
ing business.  He  resigned  all  his  contracting  interests  in  April. 
1903,  to  accept  the  position  as  director  of  the  department  of  public 
works  of  Allegheny  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  bodies 
of  Allegheny  city  and  Pittsburg. 


JAMES  W.  GRAY,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  water  assessment  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  the  city 
where  he  now  holds  his  official  position. 
He  was  born  in  the  year  1863,  and  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Alexander,  who  died  in 
iSSi,  and  Anna  Gray,  old  residents  of  the 
second  ward.  It  was  in  the  public  school 
of  this  ward  that  James  received  the 
greater  part  of  his  education,  for  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  he  went  to  work 
for  the  firm  of  Oliver  Bros.  &  Phillips  as 
city  bookkeeper.  While  with  this  firm 
he  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  had  charge  of  the  shipping 
department  in  the  mill.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  to  the  city 
engineer's  office  and  continued  in  that  position  until  1891,  when  he 
was  appointed  to  his  present  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
bureau  of  water  assessment,  in  which  his  work  has  been  universally 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  209 

approved,  as  may  be  seen  by  his  long  continuance  in  the  office. 
In  1892  he  was  married  to  Miss  Beatrice  Harrington,  of  Allegheny 
city,  Pa.,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  the  fifteenth  ward.  Mr.  Gray 
is  a  member  of  Pittsburg  lodge,  No.  219,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pittsburg  consistory,  and 
Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  In  both  private  and 
official  life,  Mr.  Gray  is  a  modest,  unassuming  gentleman,  who 
treats  every  one  with  courtesy  and  consideration.  It  is  chiefly  to 
this  trait  of  character  that  he  owes  his  popularity  and  his  success, 
though,  in  addition  to  it,  he  is  a  man  of  high  executive  ability  and 
full  of  resources  that  enable  him  to  meet  and  overcome  difficulties 
that  to  men  of  inferior  endowments  would  seem  well-nigh  insur- 
mountable. 

REV.  JOHN  SUTKAITIS,  pastor  of 
St.  Casimir's  church,  South  Side,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Lithuania  prov- 
ince, Russia,  May  i,  1870.  His  father, 
Anthony  Sutkaitis,  was  also  a  native  of 
Lithuania.  Mr.  Sutkaitis  was  educated 
in  various  institutions.  His  early  train- 
ing was  in  the  State  college  at  Suvalki, 
finishing  the  course  at  this  school  when 
he  was  but  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
spent  four  years  in  the  Catholic  semi- 
nary,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he 
came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York, 
Jan.  22,  1892.  From  New  York  he  came  to  Pittsburg,  where  he 
attended  St.  Vincent's  college  for  one  year,  and,  on  June  16,  1893, 
he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood.  Soon  after  his  ordination  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  St.  Casimir's  parish,  and  was  given  the 
cluty  of  organizing  it.  He  began  his  work  in  the  basement  of 
St.  Paul's  cathedral,  and  remained  there  until  Jan.  6,  1894,  when 
the  congregation  bought  the  Methodist  Episcopal  building  on 
Carson  street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets.  At  that  time 
the  congregation  numbered  about  seventy-five  families.  It  soon 
grew  to  such  proportions  that  the  church  on  Carson  street  had  to 
be  abandoned,  and  a  new  location  was  found  on  the  corner  of 
Sarah  and  Twenty-second  streets.  The  property  was  purchased 
from  the  South  Side  passenger  railway  company,  and  work  upon 
the  new  buildings  was  begun  in  1901.  Within  a  year  a  new 
-church,  school  and  parish  house  were  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $150,000, 


210  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

and  the  congregation  moved  into  its  new  quarters,  which  are 
among  the  finest  on  the  South  Side.  The  congregation  numbers 
at  the  present  time  about  5,000  souls,  and  in  the  work  of  organiz- 
ing and  building  up  this  parish,  Father  Sutkaitis  has  demonstrated 
his  executive  ability  and  fitness  for  his  divine  calling.  He  has 
worked  hard,  but  he  has  seen  his  labors  crowned  with  success, 
and  he  feels  a  just  pride  in  the  results  that  he  has  accomplished. 

ALEXANDER  GRAY,  superintend- 
ent of  the  bureau  of  electric  lighting  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  a  resident  of  the 
second  ward  of  the  city,  where  he  was 
born  in  1856.  His  parents,  Alexander  and 
Anna  Gray,  were  of  Scotch-Irish  stock, 
coming  from  Ireland  in  1849,  and  settling 
in  Allegheny  city,  where  his  father  died 
in  1881.  As  a  boy,  Alexander  attended 
the  old  second  ward  school,  in  which  he 
received  most  of  his  education.  On  leav- 
ing school,  he  started  to  learn  the 
plumbers'  trade  with  John  Patton,  one  of 
the  leading  plumbers  of  Allegheny  city,  but  after  two  years  he 
gave  up  the  undertaking,  and  for  the  next  year  he  was  employed 
in  a  furniture  store.  Railroading  had  a  peculiar  fascination  for 
him,  and  he  left  the  furniture  store  to  become  a  fireman  on  a  loco- 
motive on  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  railroad.  At  the 
expiration  of  nearly  four  years  in  this  employment  he  had  mastered 
all  the  intricacies  of  the  railway  locomotive  and  was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  an  engineer.  Three  years  later  he  quit  the  throttle 
to  become  a  steam-fitter  with  the  well-known  firm  of  Kelly  &  Jones, 
of  Pittsburg,  with  whom  he  continued  a  number  of  years,  leaving 
their  employ  to  become  the  chief  engineer  for  the  Standard  manu- 
facturing company,  where  he  remained  for  twelve  years.  In  April, 
1903,  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Wyman  to  his  present  position 
for  a  three-year  term,  his  long  experience  and  thorough  knov/ledge 
of  steam  engines  and  appliances  being  his  best  recommendation  for 
the  place.  Mr.  Gray  was  married,  in  1883,  to  Miss  Emma  Fisher, 
of  Lawrence  county.  Pa.  To  their  union  three  children  have  been 
born,  viz.:  Charles  A.,  Henry  and  Dorothy  Fisher  Gray.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  several 
benevolent  orders,  belonging  to  R.  Biddle  Roberts  lodge.  No.  530, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  211 

T.  O.  O.  F. ;  National  Union,  and  various  Masonic  bodies,  as 
Stuckrath  lodge,  No.  430;  Allegheny  chapter.  No.  217;  Allegheny 
commandery.  No.  35,  and  Pittsburg  consistory,  Ancient  and 
Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  in  which  he  has  reached  the  thirty-second 
degree. 

CHARLES  W.  LIGHTHILL,  alder- 
man of  the  fifth  ward  of  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  the  ward  in  1835.  His 
father,  John  Lighthill,  died  in  1880,  and 
his  mother,  Nancy  Lighthill,  died  in  1897. 
Charles  was  educated  in  the  John  Kelley 
and  first  ward  schools,  and  upon  leaving 
school  was  apprenticed  to  a  coach-builder. 
After  learning  his  trade,  he  worked  two 
years  at  it  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  came  back  to  Alle- 
gheny city,  where  he  obtained  a  position 
on  the  river  as  a  ship  carpenter.  He  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  for  four  years,  and  then  for  about  the  same 
length  of  time  was  engaged  on  the  Pittsburg  wharf.  After  leav- 
ing this  place,  he  followed  the  river  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  floating 
coal  to  the  south.  This  coal  trade  was  divided  into  two  periods, 
before  and  after  the  Civil  war.  During  the  war  he  worked  for  the 
United  States  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  building  boats  for  the  use  of  the 
government.  Since  the  war  he  has  worked  at  various  occupations, 
but  the  greater  part  of  his  time  for  several  years  was  spent  on  the 
river,  being  made  a  master  in  1880.  For  ten  or  twelve  years  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Lindsey  &  McCutcheon  iron  works.  His 
first  election  to  the  office  of  alderman  was  in  1872,  serving  five 
years.  He  was  again  elected  alderman  in  1899,  and  continues  in 
that  position,  his  offices  being  at  No.  1237  Ridge  Ave.  In  the 
meantime  he  served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the  common  council 
of  Allegheny  city.  When  he  was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Fergeson,  of  Washington  county, 
Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Sarah  and  Sidney  C,  Lighthill. 
Mr.  Lighthill  is  one  of  the  leading  republicans  of  the  fifth  ward, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  all  questions  affecting  the  public  wel- 
fare. His  wide  experience  has  made  him  a  good  judge  of  human 
nature,  and  he  is  rarely  mistaken  in  his  estimates  of  men. 


212  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

EDWIN  B.  JENKINS,  a  prominent 
and  successful  broker  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Kingwood,  W.  Va.,  Sept.  i6, 
1868,  and  is  the  son  of  William  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (Gibson)  Jenkins.  His  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town.  When  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age  he  came  to  Pittsburg 
and  went  into  business  with  his  uncle, 
Marshall  L.  Jenkins,  in  the  oil  trade. 
Edwin  Jenkins  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  oil  exchange  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and 
continued  a  member  until  the  exchange 
went  out  of  existence.  He  then  engaged  in  business  as  a  broker 
in  stocks  and  grain  in  Pittsburg,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  B. 
Jenkins  &  Co.,  in  which  he  is  at  present.  In  November,  1892,  the 
firm  was  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  On 
Feb.  12,  1893,  Mr.  Jenkins  was  married  to  Miss  A.  Lora  Crumrine, 
a  daughter  of  Valentine  Crumrine,  of  Beallsville,  Pa.  To  this 
marriage  two  daughters — Helen  and  Gertrude — have  been  born, 
both  girls  still  in  school.  Mr.  Jenkins  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  of  the  East  End,  Pittsburg. 

ADAM     STORK,    alderman     of     the 
seventh  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  a 
*      /%         native  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born 
^.  in  the  year  1847.     His  parents,  Leonard 

,^  and  Katherine  Stork,  came  to  this  country 
il^^^K  ^^'^^H''  *  \  about  1852  and  settled  in  Allegheny  city, 
^^HV  -^^J^L  "  A  where  his  mother  died  in  1868,  and  his 
^^^^^^jR^BKlf  father  in  1885.  Mr.  Stork  attended  the 
^^^^^L^V^^^^V  third  ward  school,  in  which  he  received 
^^^^^^^^^^^^M  his  education,  and  from  the  time  of  his 
^^^^^^^^^^W  leaving  school  until  the  Civil  war,  he  was 

^^^^^^^^^  employed  in  the  Banner,  Hope  and  Eagle 

cotton  mills.  In  1864  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  G,  212th  Pennsylvania  infantry,  and  served 
until  June  13,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  in  Virginia  and 
returned  to  Allegheny  city.  He  was  then  employed  as  engineer  in 
the  works  of  G.  Wettach  &  Sons  and  Lappe  &  Sons  until  the  elec- 
tion of  Thomas  Megraw  as  mayor,  in  1878,  when  he  went  on  the 
police   force.      Mayor   Megraw's  successor,    Lewis  Peterson,   Jr., 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


213 


appointed  Mr.  Stork  a  lieutenant  of  police,  and,  in  1885,  he  was 
elected  alderman  of  the  seventh  ward,  with  his  office  at  No.  165 
Chestnut  St.  He  continued  in  both  positions — alderman  and  police 
lieutenant — until  Sept.  18,  1886,  having  charge  of  police  work  at 
night.  Mr.  Stork  during  this  period  frequently  acted  as  mayor  in 
the  absence  of  Mayor  Wyman,  and  discharged  the  duties  with 
ability  and  fidelity.  Under  Mayor  R.  T.  Pearson  he  served  as 
lieutenant  of  police  and  also  as  alderman  of  the  seventh  ward.  In 
1890  he  dropped  the  police  part,  and  since  that  time  he  has  con- 
tinued as  alderman  only,  except  for  serving  as  police  magistrate 
under  Mayor  Wm.  M.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Stork  has  always  been  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  for  fifteen  years  has  represented  his  ward 
upon  the  republican  county  committee.  Although  a  partisan,  he 
has  a  large  number  of  personal  friends  among  his  political  oppo- 
nents, having  won  their  regard  by  his  straightforward  course  in  the 
performance  of  his  duties. 


SAMUEL  ABERNATHEY,  alderman 
from  the  first  ward,  Allegheny  city.  Pa., 
is  one  of  the  representative  men  in  the 
city    where    he    was    born    in    1854,    and 
where  he  has  passed  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.      His  father,   John  Abernathey, 
died  in   1894,  though  his  mother,  Kathe- 
rine,  is  still  living.      Samuel  obtained  his 
Jb^     S?^^^^^       education    in    the    public    schools   of  the 
^^m'-  -'^^^^^m         first,  second  and  third  wards  of  Allegheny 
^w/    M^^^^W  ^'^^y,  and  began  his  business  career  in  a 

tobacco  store  as  a  clerk.  In  the  course 
of  time  he  abandoned  this  occupation, 
and  for  several  years  followed  the  river,  holding  various  positions 
on  the  steamers  plying  in  and  out  of  Pittsburg.  Upon  leaving  the 
river,  he  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  in  Pittsburg,  return- 
ing later  to  Allegheny  city,  where  he  took  up  his  residence.  Soon 
after  his  return  he  was  elected  constable  for  the  first  ward,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  was  re-elected,  serving  altogether  seven 
years,  when  he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  first  ward,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Maple,  of 
West  Virginia,  who  died  in  1893,  leaving  two  sons,  George  and 
Albert,  both  of  whom  are  now  married.  Mr.  Abernathey  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Lorena  lodge,  No.  198,  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  is  the 
only  secret  or  fraternal  organization  to  claim  him  as  a  brother.      In 


214  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

April,  1903,  he  was  appointed  police  magistrate  under  Mayor 
Wyman.  In  this  position  he  has  shown  the  genuine  judicial 
temperament,  his  decisions  being  based  on  justice  and  generally 
meeting  with  popular  approval. 

JOHN  A.  FAIRMAN,  a  prominent 
retired  funeral  director  and  livery  keeper, 
of  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  has  been  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Allegheny 
city  for  almost  half  a  century.  He  was 
born  in  what  is  now  the  fourth  ward  of 
the  city,  in  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Agnes  Fairman,  both  of  whom  are 
well  remembered  by  the  older  inhabit- 
ants of  the  city.  Robert  Fairman  died 
Oct.  5,  1878,  and  his  wife  on  June  20, 
1895.  John  A.  Fairman's  early  education 
was  acquired  in  the  fourth  ward  public 
school,  after  which  he  took  a  course  at  Duff's  college,  Pittsburg, 
and  entered  upon  his  business  career  as  an  assistant  in  William 
Rorah's  photograph  gallery,  which  was  the  first  west  of  the  moun- 
tains in  Pennsylvania.  While  thus  employed,  the  Civil  war  broke 
out  and  young  Fairman,  fired  by  the  patriotic  impulses  which  at 
that  time  found  lodgment  in  the  hearts  of  so  many  American  citi- 
zens, left  his  peaceful  occupation  to  take  up  arms  in  defense  of  his 
country.  He  first  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  ist  battalion,  Penn- 
sylvania cavalr}',  but  later  became  a  member  of  Knapp's  Pennsyl- 
vania battery.  He  served  until  February,  1864,  being  captured  at 
Averasboro,  N.  C,  and  was  for  some  time  an  inmate  of  the 
famous  Libby  prison.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Alle- 
gheny city  and  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  undertak- 
ing business.  In  1869  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Forest  City  pipe  works,  manufacturers  of 
steam  and  gas  pipes.  In  1873  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  com- 
pany, returned  to  Allegheny  city,  and  opened  an  undertaking  and 
livery  establishment  on  Beaver  avenue.  Afterwards  he  removed 
to  Sandusky  street,  where  he  conducted  the  business  successfully 
until  1879,  when  he  sold  out,  and  for  the  next  two  years  was  not 
actively  engaged  in  any  business.  In  1881  he  became  connected 
with  the  Pittsburg  oil  company,  in  sinking  wells,  etc.,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1884,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  looking  after 
his  interests  in  that  vicinity.     Mr.  Fairman  is  a  prominent  figure 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  215 

in  the  lodge  and  club  life  of  Allegheny  city.  As  early  as  1867  he 
joined  Franklin  lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  but  later 
transferred  his  membership  to  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  223.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  Allegheny  chapter,  No.  217,  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
and  Lorena  Orr  chapter,  No.  18,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  As  a 
member  of  Abe  Patterson  post,  No.  88,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  he  has  held  the  office  of  commander,  an  honor  that  any 
man  might  covet.  He  belongs  to  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339, 
B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  which  he  is  a  past  exalted  ruler,  and  in  which  he 
now  holds  the  important  office  of  trustee.  He  was  also  the  chair- 
man of  the  building  committee,  having  in  charge  the  work  of 
remodeling  the  Elks'  home  on  Cedar  avenue.  Mr.  Fairman  has 
always  been  a  consistent  republican,  but  the  only  office  he  has  ever 
held  was  that  of  member  of  the  common  council  of  Allegheny  city. 
He  was  prominently  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  office  of 
sheriff  of  Allegheny  county,  but  positively  refused  to  become  a 
candidate.  Throughout  his  entire  business  career  he  has  been  dis- 
tinguished by  his  uprightness  and  integrity.  As  a  member  of  the 
council  he  considered  it  his  duty  to  guard  the  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  that  duty  was  always  well  performed.  As  a  young  man, 
a  member  of  Knapp's  battery,  the  same  devotion  to  duty  marked 
his  military  conduct.  Had  he  been  willing  to  desert  his  post  at  a 
critical  moment,  he  might  have  avoided  capture  and  imprisonment, 
but  he  preferred  capture,  or  even  death,  to  dishonor. 

ADDISON  J.  BRINKER,  alderman  of 
the  twelfth  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  was 
born  in  Butler  county.  Pa.,  April  23, 
1840.  In  1847  his  parents  removed  to 
Allegheny  city,  where  he  received  the 
greater  part  of  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  After  a  residence  of  seven  years 
in  Allegheny  city,  the  family  returned  to 
Butler  county,  where  his  father,  Jacob 
Brinker,  died  in  1855.  The  death  of  his 
father  threw  a  good  part  of  the  burden  of 
the  family  support  upon  Addison,  and  he 
went  to  work  in  the  mines,  digging  coal. 
In  the  spring  of  1856  he  obtained  a  position  on  the  old  Pennsylvania 
canal,  where  he  continued  for  some  time,  and  later,  in  1857,  went 
to  Meadville  to  learn  the  trade  of  an  iron-molder.  About  a  year 
later  he  went  to  Pittsburg  and  found  employment  on    the   river. 


216  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

During-  the  Mormon  troubles  of  1858  he  was  in  the  United  States 
service  under  Gens.  Percy  S.  Smith  and  W.  S  Harney.  After  a 
four-month  campaign  against  the  Mormons,  he  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg and  worked  in  the  oil  fields  until  1861.  Upon  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war,  Mr.  Brinker  returned  to  Butler  county  and 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  12th  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
for  the  three-month  service,  under  Capt.  Biddle  Roberts.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  again  entered  the  service, 
this  time  as  first  sergeant  in  Company  H,  io2d  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteer infantry.  In  February,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  and  went  through  the  Peninsular  campaign  to  Harrison's 
Landing,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  He  recruited  a 
company  and  a  third  time  entered  the  army,  his  company  becom- 
ing- Company  G,  137th  Pennsylvania  infantry,  in  which  he  started 
as  a  private,  but  was  soon  promoted  to  orderly  sergeant,  then 
sergeant-major  and  acting  adjutant  under  Col.  J  B.  Kiddoo.  On 
the  last  day  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  at  the  request  of  the 
of^cers  of  the  line,  Mr.  Brinker  took  command  of  the  regiment. 
After  nine  months'  service  with  this  regiment,  he  returned  home, 
and  from  that  time  until  December,  1863,  he  acted  as  United  States 
detective  for  Pennsylvania.  From  December,  1863,  to  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  stationed  at  Brady's  Bend,  Pa.,  at  work  upon  the 
rolls.  After  peace  was  restored,  he  went  to  Meadville  and  secured 
a  position  on  the  police  force,  serving  until  1869,  when  he  resigned 
to  become  the  chief  of  police  at  Franklin,  Pa.  Two  years  later  he 
resig-ned  this  position  to  become  chief  at  Butler,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  until  1875,  when  he  came  to  Allegheny  city.  For  a  little 
while  he  was  connected  with  the  street  railway  company,  but  was 
soon  appointed  detective,  under  Chief  Robert  Hague,  at  the  first 
exposition.  After  the  exposition  he  went  on  the  police  force  as 
lieutenant  in  charge  of  the  day  division,  under  Mayor  Peterson, 
and  continued  in  this  place  until  1884.  After  serving  as  constable 
for  a  short  time  in  the  fall  of  1884,  he  was  appointed  alderman  for 
the  twelfth  ward,  and  held  the  position  for  five  years.  For  about 
nine  months  he  was  on  the  police  force,  when  he  was  again 
appointed  alderman  for  a  term  of  five  years,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  this  term  he  served  as  alderman  for  about  eight  months  in  the 
tenth  ward.  He  then  moved  back  to  the  twelfth  ward  and  was 
again  appointed  alderman,  this  time  by  Governor  Hastings.  After 
the  term  of  his  appointment  expired,  he  was  with  the  Bell  tele- 
phone company,  as  an  inspector,  for  four  years,  when  he  was  a 
fourth  time  chosen  alderman,  this  time  by  popular  election.      His 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


217 


present  office  is  located  at  No.  15 17  East  St.  He  has  been 
appointed  police  magistrate  two  terms,  and  is  at  the  present  time 
holding  that  office.  Throughout  his  entire  career  Mr.  Brinker  has 
been  a  close  adherent  to  the  principles  and  tenets  of  the  republican 
party.  He  was  married,  in  1873,  to  Miss  Jane  McCleary,  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  His  wife  died  in  1901,  leaving  one  son  named  Blaine. 
Mr.  Brinker  is  a  member  of  the  English  Lutheran  church,  and 
Lodge  No.  128,  United  Workmen.  His  long  official  career  has 
rendered  him  one  of  the  best-known  men  in  Allegheny  city,  and  in 
his  whole  course  of  life,  whether  as  a  soldier,  a  policeman  or  an 
alderman,  he  has  never  shrunk  from  a  responsibility  nor  swerved 
from  a  duty. 

WILLIAM  A.  FORD,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Ben  Franklin  fire  insur- 
ance company,  with  headquarters  in  the 
Berry  building,  on  Ohio  street,  Allegheny 
city,  Pa. ,  has  been  with  that  company  over 
twenty-five  years,  and  has  worked  his 
way  up  from  the  ranks.  His  parents  were 
William  W.  and  Mary  A.  Ford,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  1854,  in  the  second 
ward  of  Allegheny.  Until  he  was  four- 
teen,  he  attended  school  in  his  native 
city.  Then  the  family  removed  to  New- 
port, Ky,,  where  they  lived  for  several  years,  the  father  following 
the  occupation  of  a  steamboat  captain  on  the  Ohio  river.  Here 
William  attended  the  business  college  of  Bryant,  Stratton  &  De 
Hand,  and  after  graduating  from  the  institution,  he  became  a  clerk 
on  his  father's  boat.  In  1877  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lydie  E. 
McCune,  of  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  and  the  next  year  gave  up  the 
river  to  accept  a  position  with  the  Ben  Franklin  fire  insurance 
company.  In  this  business  he  rose  rapidly,  filling  successively  all 
the  places  in  the  offices  until  he  reached  his  present  position.  He 
and  his  wife  have  three  children,  William  A.,  Jr.,  Fanny  L.  and 
Howe  R.  The  family  reside  in  the  second  ward,  where  for  twelve 
years  Mr.  Ford  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Since 
taking  up  his  residence  in  Allegheny  city  he  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  political  campaigns,  in  which  he  has  always  identified  him- 
self with  the  republican  party.  He  has  served  on  both  the  city 
and   county  committees,  and   was   for  six   years   a  member  of  the 


218  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

common  council.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  Stuckrath  lodge,  No.  430;  Allegheny'  chapter, 
No.  217;  Allegheny  commandery,  No.  235;  Pittsburg  consistory; 
and  Syria  temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Heptasophs.  Mr.  Ford  and 
family  attend  the  North  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

^^g^^  HENRY    HAUSER,    wharfmaster   of 

^^^^^^B^^^  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  a  lifelong  resident 

^^^Hjj^^^^^^^k         of  Allegheny  county.     He  was   born   in 

^^^^^L^  jjj^^^  the  fourth  ward  of  Allegheny  city  in 
^^^^^^m  ^^  S^^H  1S60,  received  his  entire  education  in  the 
^^^^I^hL  lJ^^B  pu^^^c  school  of  that  ward,  and  at  the  age 
^^^^^■P^  Jj^^^B  of  eleven  years  began  his  life-work  as  an 
^^^^HHn^^^^^H  employe  of  the  malleable  iron  works. 
^^^^K.  ^^^k^^^^F      After  learning  his  trade,  he  was  employed 

^^^^BfP9^^^V  for  some  years  by  the  Crawford  malleable 
^^^^^^L    ^^^w  .iron  works  of  Allegheny  city,  and  later 

^^^^Mj^^r  by  the  Pittsburg  locomotive  works.     Next 

he  was  connected  with  the  Speers  manu- 
facturing company,  and  still  later  with  the  James  Hunter  River 
avenue  lime  company,  as  collector.  Mayor  John  R.  Murphy 
appointed  Mr.  Hauser  to  the  city  fire  department,  and  for  some 
time  he  was  captain  of  hose  company  No.  10.  From  that  company 
he  was  transferred  to  engine  company  No.  14,  and  as  captain  of 
that  company  he  opened  the  new  house  on  Perrysville  avenue,  but 
afterwards  returned  to  his  old  quarters  with  the  "Tens." 
Altogether,  he  was  a  member  of  the  department  for  eleven  years, 
and  until  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position,  in  April,  1903, 
by  Mayor  Wyman.  His  father,  Pius  Hauser,  died  in  1895,  his 
mother,  Caroline  Hauser,  having  died  the  previous  year.  Mr. 
Hauser  is  a  consistent  republican  in  all  things  political,  having 
been  a  member  of  the  county  committee  for  the  last  ten  years.  He 
served  nine  years  on  the  tenth  ward  school  board,  and  for  six  years 
of  that  time  he  was  chairman  of  the  board.  He  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Republican  progressive  association  of  the 
tenth  ward,  and  one  of  the  original  organizers  of  the  celebrated 
Duquesne  drum  corps.  In  the  matter  of  secret  and  fraternal 
societies,  Mr.  Hauser  is  a  member  of  Fidelia  lodge,  No.  415,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  which  he  joined  in  1882;  Hope 
lodge,  No.  243,  Knights  of  Pythias;  Ricka  lodge,  No.  5,  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and  the  Perrysville  conclave 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  219 

of  Heptasophs.  His  church  connection  is  with  the  Second 
Christian  congregation,  whose  place  of  worship  is  on  Observatory 
hill.  He  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Arnold,  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Lyda  May. 

JOHN  LINWOOD  BROWN,  superin- 
tendent of  the  bureau  of  water  supply  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and  son  of  William 
and  Margarette  Brown,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1848,  but  came  with  his  parents 
to  America  in  his  boyhood.  The  family 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  John  gradu- 
ated from  the  city  high  school,  and  after- 
wards entered  the  Baldwin  locomotive 
works  as  an  apprentice,  taking  in  the 
various  departments  of  machinist,  pattern 
and  boiler-making  and  draughting,  in 
the  meantime  taking  two  courses  in 
mechanical  engineering.  After  serving  his  apprenticeship,  he 
entered  the  railway  service  as  a  locomotive  engineer,  but  in  a  little 
while  returned  to  the  Baldwin  works,  and  for  some  time  was 
employed  in  delivering  engines  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States,  Mexico,  Cuba,  Brazil,  Peru,  Chili,  and  other  South  Ameri- 
can countries,  Russia  and  Canada.  Later  he  was  employed  in  the 
same  capacity  by  the  Pittsburg  locomotive  works.  He  then  again 
entered  the  railroad  service  as  master  mechanic  and  superintendent 
of  the  Southern  Wisconsin  railroad,  and  later  with  the  I.  B.  8c  W. 
and  the  Mexican  Central  lines,  finally  becoming  master  mechanic 
of  the  Pittsburg  &  Western.  On  July  5,  1871,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  G.  Hunt,  of  Belle  Center,  Ohio.  They 
have  one  daughter.  Marguerite,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Louis  B. 
Hawkins.  Mr.  Brown  is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  holding 
membership  in  all  the  different  bodies  of  that  order,  from  the  Blue 
lodge  to  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  past  exalted  ruler  of  Alle- 
gheny lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  past  grand  chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  for  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  past  grand  officer 
for  several  other  bodies.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  American 
society  of  mechanical  engineers  and  of  the  Franklin  institute,  and 
is  an  ex-member  of  the  National  association  of  master  mechanics. 
He  resides  in  the  third  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  where  he  usually 
acts  with  the  republican  party  in  political  contests. 


220 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


REV.  BOSILJKO  BEKAVAC,  pastor 
of  St.  Nicholas'  Roman  Catholic  church, 
of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Obrenovac,  Hercegovina,  Aug.  5,  1870. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  country  and  in  Italy,  and,  in  1895, 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood.  Father 
Bekavac  is  fitted  by  nature  for  the  work 
and  offices  of  the  priest,  and  from  the 
time  of  his  ordination  until  1900  he 
served  as  a  rector  in  his  home  country 
with  a  marked  degree  of  success.  In 
1900  he  came  to  the  United  States  of 
America,  settling  at  Allegheny  city,  Pa  ,  and  taking  charge  of  his 
present  parish,  where  his  labors  have  been  crowned  with  the  same 
favorable  results  as  his  work  in  the  Fatherland.  The  parish  of  St. 
Nicholas  is  one  of  the  most  populous  in  the  diocese,  having  a  con- 
gregation of  several  hundred  families  and  representing  about  4,000 
workingmen.  Soon  after  taking  charge  of  the  parish.  Father 
Bekavac  went  to  work  to  improve  the  church  property,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  erected  the  present  buildings  on  Ohio  street  at  a 
cost  of  about  $82,000,  the  church  edifice  being  one  of  the  best  in 
the  city,  and  one  of  which  both  pastor  and  parishioners  are  justly 
proud. 


FRANK  B.  HARKINS,  the  genial  and 
popular  real  estate  agent  and  police 
magistrate  of  Allegheny  city,  is  one  of 
the  best-known  men  in  the  city.  He  was 
born  in  Allegheny  county,  March  14, 
1853,  and  is  of  Irish  extraction,  as  the 
names  of  his  parents,  Dennis  and  Bridget, 
would  plainly  indicate.  His  father  died 
in  1890,  and  his  mother  in  1895.  When 
Frank  was  still  in  his  early  boyhood,  the 
family  moved  to  Pittsburg,  and  there  he 
received  his  first  schooling  under  the 
private  tutorage  of  Jeremiah  Donovan. 
After  this  he  attended  the  Brothers'  school,  and  later  the  ward 
schools,  until  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  work 
in  the  Phillips  &  Bess  glass  house.  When  he  was  twelve  years  of 
age  the  family  went  west,  locating  at  Chilton,  Calumet  Co.,  Wis., 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  221 

where  he  spent  four  years  in  school,  thus  completing  his  education. 
His  parents  then  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  Frank  found  employ- 
ment in  the  McKee  glass  house,  on  Nineteenth  street,  where  he 
worked  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when  the  family  moved  to 
Allegheny  city,  taking  him  along.  His  next  position  was  in  the 
iron  works  of  Oliver  Bros,  as  a  puddler,  at  which  he  continued 
until  1884.  From  1884  to  1887  he  served  as  an  oi^cer  of  the 
western  penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1892  he  was  elected 
alderman  of  the  eleventh  ward,  and,  in  1897,  was  re-elected  for 
another  term  of  five  years.  He  served  six  years  as  police  magis- 
trate under  Mayors  Kennedy  and  Wyman,  and  was  re-appointed 
by  Recorder  Murphy.  In  1903  Mayor  Wyman  appointed  him 
police  magistrate  of  the  third  district  for  three  years,  with  offices  at 
No.  3  police  station,  on  Preble  avenue.  Mr.  Harkins  was  married, 
April  23,  1876,  to  Miss  Annie  Boyle,  of  Pittsburg.  They  have 
seven  children,  viz.:  Annie,  John  A.,  Frank  J.,  Dennis  B., 
James  A.,  Mary  K.  and  Edward  B. 

REV.  JOHN  B.  DUFFNER,  pastor  of 
the  Most  Holy  Name  parish,  Troy  Hill, 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Schoe- 
nenbach,  Amt  Villingen,  Baden,  Ger- 
many, June  19,  1843.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Walburga  DufFner,  both  now 
deceased.  Father  Duffner  began  his  col- 
legiate studies  at  Maria  Stein,  Basel, 
Switzerland,  a  Benedictine  abbey,  now 
for  some  years  abolished.  His  later 
studies  were  at  the  Benedictine  abbey 
of  Engelberg,  Obwalden,  Switzerland, 
and  at  Sarenen,  near  Luzerne.  His 
philosophical  studies  were  completed  at  the  quondam  Jesuit  college, 
Brieg,  Canton  Wallis,  Switzerland,  and  his  theological  studies  at 
the  seminary  at  Chur,  Switzerland.  While  on  a  trip  through  the 
United  States,  he  stopped  for  a  few  days,  in  the  fall  of  1867,  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  in  November  of  that  year,  without  previous  in- 
tention, he  entered  the  then  existing  St.  Michael's  seminary,  of  the 
diocese  of  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  also  ordained  priest  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Domenec,  on  Jan.  25,  1868,  Since  his  ordination, 
Father  Duffner  has  been  laboring  as  a  priest  in  the  diocese  of  Pitts- 
burg and  Allegheny,  Pa.  His  first  station  was  that  of  assistant 
priest  to  Rev.    Father  Tomchina,    pastor  of  St.    Augustine's,    at 


222  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Lawrenceville,  Pa.  After  a  few  months  at  Lawrenceville,  he  was 
appointed  rector  of  St.  Agnes'  congregation,  near  McKeesport, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  about  two  years.  Next  he  founded  St. 
Peter's  parish,  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  and  was  the  pastor  of  the 
parish  from  November,  1871,  to  September,  1892.  During  seven- 
teen years  of  this  time  he  was  president  of  the  German  St.  Joseph's 
orphan  asylum.  In  September,  1892,  he  was  appointed  pastor  of 
the  Most  Holy  Name  parish,  Troy  Hill,  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and 
has  been  there  ever  since.  His  parish  numbers  about  700  families, 
and  in  every  one  of  them  the  genial,  kind-hearted  priest  is  a 
welcome  visitor. 

REV.  FRANCIS  J.  McCABE,  pastor 
of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  and  son  of  Andrew  and 
Mary  Ann  McCabe,  was  born  in  the  town- 
ship of  Gallin,  parish  of  Killinkere, 
County  Cavan,  Ireland,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  had  com- 
pleted the  course  of  study  in  the  national 
schools,  and  then  entered  the  seminary 
at  Ballyjamesduff,  where  he  studied 
rhetoric  and  the  classics.  After  a  four- 
year  course  in  this  institution,  he  passed 
the  examination  for  admission  to  All 
Hallows'  college,  Drumcondra,  Dublin.  In  that  college  his  studies 
were  logic  and  philosophy,  which  he  prosecuted  for  two  years, 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  In  July,  1887,  shortly  after 
arriving  in  this  country,  he  began  his  theological  studies  in  St. 
Vincent's  seminary,  at  Beatty,  Pa.  He  completed  his  studies  here, 
and  was  ordained  priest  on  May  28,  1890.  After  a  few  weeks' 
vacation,  he  was  appointed  by  Rt.  Rev.  R.  Phelan,  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  Pittsburg,  to  the  office  of  assistant  priest  to  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Carroll,  at  St.  Andrew's  church,  Beaver  avenue,  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.  About  July  i,  1892,  he  was  ordered  to  leave  St. 
Andrew's  and  take  charge  of  St.  Mary's  church  at  Kittanning, 
Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  a  little  more  than  six 
months,  leaving  there  about  the  middle  of  January,  1893,  and  the 
same  month  organizing,  under  direction  of  his  bishop,  and  taking 
charge  of  the  new  parish  of  the  Annunciation  in  Allegheny  city. 
Father  McCabe  applied  himself  with  zeal  to  his  task  of  building  up 
a  church  in  the  new  parish,  and  measured  by  results,  he  has  cer- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  223 

tainly  succeeded.  At  the  time  of  his  taking  charge  there  were  only 
sixty-five  Catholic  families  in  the  parish ;  now  there  are  about  300 
families,  and  the  property  of  the  church,  on  Norwood  avenue,  is 
worth  more  than  $50,000. 

WILLIAM  G.  MANNING,  city  assess- 
or of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  a  man  of 
varied  attainments.  He  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  in  1851,  his  parents 
being  Richard  and  Elizabeth  Manning, 
both  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  the  for- 
mer departing  this  life  in  1856,  and  the 
latter  in  1898.  Owing  to  the  death  of 
his  father,  William's  opportunities  to 
secure  an  education  were  somewhat  cur- 
tailed, and  while  still  in  his  boyhood,  he 
started  out  to  fight  the  battle  of  life  for 
himself.  His  first  employment  was  with 
the  Fort  Pitt  glass  company,  of  Pittsburg,  where  he  stayed  for  two 
years.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Armstrong&  Abby  machine 
company,  and  in  the  four  years  that  he  was  with  them  he  became  an 
accomplished  machinist.  A  life  in  the  machine  shop  was  not  to  his 
liking,  however,  and  he  went  into  the  rolling  mill  of  Anderson  & 
Woods,  where  he  remained  for  eleven  years.  Next  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  Sloan  &  Mcllvain,  contractors  and  builders,  for  about 
eight  years.  For  a  little  more  than  a  year  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
lights  and  machinery  of  the  Allegheny  county  jail,  and,  in  April, 
1903,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  Mr.  Manning  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs,  acting  invariably  with  the  republican  party.  In  18S4  he 
was  elected  to  the  common  council  of  Allegheny  city,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1885,  and  again  in  1886.  He  was  then  out  for  several 
years,  but  in  1898  he  was  again  elected  to  the  council,  serving  until 
1901.  In  1878  he  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Schulte,  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Three  daughters — Mary,  Marguerite  and  Martha — 
have  been  born  to  them.  Mr.  Manning  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  128,  of  the  National  Union;  the  Allegheny  Turnverein  and  the 
Troy  Hill  singing  society.  In  the  various  business  positions  he 
has  held  he  has  been  trusted  by  his  employers,  in  his  political  rela- 
tions he  has  been  respected,  and  in  his  lodge  and  club  membership 
he  is  universally  popular. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

LAFAYETTE  WILLS,  city  clerk  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  a  man  whose 
ability  and  popularity  are  attested  by  the 
successes  he  has  achieved  both  in  busi- 
ness and  politics.  He  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny city  in  1868,  his  parents,  Henry 
and  Henrietta  Wills,  being  well-known 
residents  of  the  city.  After  a  few  years' 
attendance  at  the  fourth  ward  school, 
Lafayette  went  to  work  in  the  Chambers 
glass  house,  in  the  South  Side  of  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  remained  for  five  years. 
For  the  next  seven  years  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Armstrong  cork  company,  of  Pittsburg.  He  then 
learned  the  machinists'  trade  with  James  Reese  &  Son,  of  Pitts- 
burg, serving  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years.  In  1892  he  was 
appointed  clerk  to  the  city  comptroller  of  Allegheny  city,  holding 
that  position  until  November,  1901,  when  he  was  elected  city  clerk 
for  the  unexpired  term  of  one  year.  Mr.  Wills  is  an  enthusiastic 
republican,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  effi- 
cient of  the  party  workers  in  Allegheny  county.  He  is  a  member 
of  both  the  city  and  county  republican  committees,  and  his  eleva- 
tion to  the  office  of  city  clerk  is  but  a  fitting  reward  for  his  long 
continued  party  services.  He  belongs  to  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339, 
B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  is  one  of  its  most  popular  members. 

REV.  FRANCIS  GLOJNARIC,  pastor 

a  of   the  Croatian  Roman  Catholic  Church 

of  St.  Nicholas,  Millvale,  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.,  is   a  native  of  Cresnjevec,  Croatia, 
Austria- Hungary,  where  he  was  born  in 
1864.     In  early  life  he  decided  to  enter 
the  priesthood,  educated  himself  for  that 
purpose  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
and   was    ordained    at   Zagreb   in    1887. 
Until  1894  he  had  charge  of  a  church  in 
Croatia.      Then,    knowing   that   a   large 
number  of  his  countrymen  were  in  Amer- 
ica without  the  services  of  a  priest  who 
could  speak  their  mother  tongue,  he  sailed  for  this  country.     Upon 
arriving  in  the  United  States,  he  went  directly  to  Allegheny  city, 
where  he  was  at  once  placed  in  charge  of  the  old  St.  Nicholas' 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  225 

church  on  Ohio  street.  In  1900  he  took  charge  of  the  present 
parish  at  Millvale,  a  parish  representing  nearly  2,000  members. 
Since  becoming  the  pastor  of  this  congregation,  he  has  built  a 
church  and  a  school  building  at  a  cost  of  about  $54,000.  Father 
Glojnaric  is  a  tireless  worker,  and  his  work  is  a  labor  of  love  rather 
than  one  of  ambition.  Although  he  takes  pleasure  in  the  thought 
that  his  people  are  well  provided  for  in  the  way  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship and  a  school  building,  he  derives  far  more  real  pleasure  from 
the  knowledge  that  they  are  comfortable  in  their  homes  and 
spiritually  happy. 

JOHN  GRABBING,  Jr.,  assessor  of 
Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  was  born  in  what  is 
now  the  third  ward  of  that  city,  in  1845. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Frederika 
Graebing,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. He  attended  the  public  school 
in  the  third  ward,  and  afterwards  a  pri- 
vate institution,  studying  both  English 
and  German.  His  first  position  was  with 
the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago 
railway,  as  a  clerk  in  the  offices  of  the 
company.  About  1859  he  went  with  his 
father  to  Beaver  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  until  1869,  when  his  father  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Beaver  county,  and  he  became  a  deputy  in  the 
office  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Upon  leaving  the  sheriff's  office  he 
acted  as  bookkeeper  and  secretary  of  several  institutions,  and  con- 
tinued in  this  position  until  1879,  when  he  went  to  Pittsburg  and 
took  up  the  business  of  real  estate  dealer  and  mortgage  broker. 
This  business  he  conducted  successfully  until  April,  1903,  when  he 
was  appointed  assessor  of  the  city.  Mr.  Graebing  is  a  solid  repub- 
lican in  all  matters  pertaining  to  politics,  and  for  the  last  ten  years 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  and  city  republican 
committees.  In  1899  he  was  elected  to  the  common  council  from 
the  fifth  ward,  and  was  re-elected  in  1903.  In  1866  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Lucinda  McKnight,  of  Beaver  county.  Six  children  were 
born  to  this  union:  John  C,  Harry,  Emma,  Grace,  Samuel  W.  and 
Frank.  All  except  Frank  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Graebing  died  in 
1901.  Mr.  Graebing  is  a  member  of  St.  James'  lodge.  No.  459, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Beaver  county;  Eureka  chapter, 
No.  167,  and  Allegheny  commandery,  No.    35,   Knights  Templars.' 

1-15 


226  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Elks,  Heptasophs,  Home 
Circle,  and  several  other  orders.  Mr.  Graebing  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Third  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Allegheny 
city. 

ROBERT  K.  COCHRANE,  the  sixth- 
ward  member  of  the  common  council  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and  a  well-known 
contractor  and  builder,  has  passed  his 
entire  life  in  Allegheny  county,  having 
been  born  in  the  sixth  ward  of  Allegheny 
city  in  1872.  His  first  schooling  was 
obtained  in  that  ward,  and  afterwards  he 
took  a  course  in  Curry  university,  Pitts- 
burg, graduating  in  1889.  During  the 
three  years  immediately  following  his 
graduation,  he  was  the  bookkeeper  for 
the  Western  Pennsylvania  phonograph 
company,  of  Pittsburg,  and  for  the  next  five  years  he  was  with  the 
Sherriff  machinery  company,  also  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  then  with 
Fried  &  Rieneman,  pork  packers,  of  Pittsburg,  until  April  i,  1901. 
His  mother,  Katherine  Cochrane,  died  in  1893,  and  the  death  of  his 
father,  George  A.  Cochrane,  occurring  on  Oct.  25,  1900,  he  and  his 
brother,  George  A.,  Jr.,  formed  a  partnership  to  carry  on  their 
father's  business,  which  was  well  established.  This  partnership 
took  effect  on  April  i,  1901,  and  still  continues.  Robert  Cochrane 
is  a  steadfast  republican  in  all  things  pertaining  to  partisan  poli- 
tics, and  was  elected  on  that  ticket,  in  February,  1903,  to  represent 
his  ward  in  the  common  council,  where  he  is  on  the  committees  on 
library,  corporations  and  public  works.  Mr.  Cochrane  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  223,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Alle- 
gheny chapter.  No.  217,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Allegheny  com- 
mandery,  No.  35,  Knights  Templars;  Syria  temple,  of  Pittsburg, 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O. 
Elks,  and  Manchester  council,  No.  124,  Independent  Order  of 
United  American  Mechanics.  He  is  also  a  member  and  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Sixth  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Allegheny 
city.  He  belongs  to  the  Brighton  country  club  and  is  an  influ- 
ential member  of  the  Americus  republican  club.  In  1891  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Pearl  Cassilly,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  three  children,  George  A.,  Robert  K.  and 
Helen  V.,  all  of  whom  are  now  attending  school.     In  all  the  differ- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  227 

ent  lines  of  business  in  which  Mr.  Cochrane  has  been  engaged  he 
has  been  successful.  Quick  to  grasp  a  situation,  he  soon  masters 
the  intricacies  of  whatever  he  undertakes.  Although  less  than 
three  years  have  elapsed  since  he  and  his  brother  succeeded  to  their 
father's  business,  they  have  managed  it  with  such  skill  and  judg- 
ment that  the  firm  is  well  and  favorably  known,  and  is  on  the  high- 
road to  prosperity. 

THOMAS  W.  HARVEY,  banker  and 
member  of  the  common  council  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  representing  the  sixth  ward, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in 
1864.     His    parents    were    Richard    and 
Elizabeth   Harvey,  the  former  of  whom 
passed  away  in  1897,  but  the  latter  is  still 
living.      When    Mr.    Harvey   was   about 
three  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to 
Allegheny    city,    locating    in    the    sixth 
ward.     There  he  received  his  first  instruc- 
tion in  the  public  school  of  the  ward,  com- 
pleting the  course  of  study  when  he  was 
eighteen.     He  then  graduated  from   Duff's  commercial    college, 
Pittsburg,  and  took   a  position  in  the  financial  department  of  the 
Cleveland  &  Pittsburg  railroad,  where  he  rose  to  be  chief  clerk  of 
the  department.     After  leaving  the  railroad  oilfices,  he  spent  one 
year  as  traveling  salesman  for  a  wholesale  glass  house,  and  then 
went  into  the  cashier's  department  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
in    the  offices  at  Pittsburg.     He  remained  in  this  position    until 
1888,  when  he  went  into  the  Enterprise  National  bank,  at  No.  1601 
Beaver  Ave.,  Allegheny  city,  as  teller,  and  is  still  connected  with 
this   bank,  holding   the   position    of   teller  and   assistant   cashier. 
Politically,  Mr.  Harvey  is  a  steadfast  republican.     For  four  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  sixth  ward  school  board,  and,  in  February, 
1903,  he  was  one  of  three  straight  republicans  elected  from    that 
ward  to  the  common  council.      His  appointment  to  the  council  com- 
mittees on  finance  and  corporations  was  a  fitting  recognition  of  his 
qualifications    for    such    a    position— qualifications    acquired   and 
developed  by  years  of  training  and  experience  in  the  railroad  offices 
and   the  bank.      Mr.    Harvey  is  a  familiar  figure  at  all  Masonic 
gatherings  in  Allegheny  city  and  Pittsburg.      He  is  a  member  of 
Stuckrath  lodge,  No.  430;  Allegheny  chapter,  No.  217;  Allegheny 
commandery.  No.  35,  Knights  Templars,  and  Syria  temple.  Nobles 


228  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Humboldt  associa- 
tion, No.  445,  Royal  Arcanum;  Pittsburg  conclave,  No.  89,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Heptasophs;  Zion  lodge,  No.  1057,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Fourth  United  Presbyterian  church 
of  Allegheny  city.  In  October,  1885,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jessie  McElwee,  and  to  them  have  been  born  five  children, 
Thomas  E.,  Laura  V.,  George  B.,  Grace  E.  and  Arthur  W.  Mrs, 
Harvey,  like  her  husband,  is  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  where 
her  family  is  well  known. 

PETER  BOLSTER,  alderman  of  the 
thirteenth  ward  of  Alleghen}^  city.  Pa.,  is 
a  native  of  Bavaria.      In   1847,   when  he 
was  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  his  par- 
ents   came    to    America    and    settled    at 
Gettysburg,    Pa.,  and   later   at   Reading, 
Pa.      His  father  and    mother,    Frederick 
^^      and   Mary  Bolster,  both  lived  to  a  good 
^V       old   age,  the   former   dying  in    1886,  and 
^m         the    latter    in    1887.      Peter   received  his 
^^^^Sw  education  in  the  Reading  public  schools, 

wKK^^r  after    which     he    was    apprenticed    to    a 

mason  to  learn  the  trade.  He  served  his 
time  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  Reading  until  i860,  when  he 
removed  to  Allegheny  city,  located  in  the  third  ward,  and  went  to 
work  as  a  bricklayer.  In  1863  he  was  elected  constable  of  the 
third  ward  and  served  for  two  years,  when  he  was  appointed  to  a 
place  on  the  police  force  by  Mayor  John  Morrison.  He  was  soon 
promoted  to  lieutenant  of  police,  and  later  to  a  captaincy,  serving 
in  that  capacity  until  1869,  when  he  was  elected  alderman  of  his 
ward.  He  was  re-elected  at  each  succeeding  election  until  1879, 
when  he  became  deputy  sheriff,  holding  the  position  for  three 
years.  He  was  then  appointed  United  States  storekeeper  at  the 
Guckenheimer  distillery  for  a  term  of  four  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  removed  to  the  seventh  ward,  and  was  soon 
afterwards  appointed  health  officer,  serving  several  years.  In  1890 
he  changed  his  residence  to  the  thirteenth  ward,  where  he  was 
elected  alderman  under  Governor  McGarie,  was  re-elected  under 
Governor  Hastings,  and  again  under  Governor  Stone.  During  this 
time  Mr.  Bolster  was  a  school  director  for  twelve  years,  a  good 
portion  of  the  time  being  president  of  the  third  ward  school  board. 
In   September,  185 1,  he  was  married   to   Miss   Nancy  Amsly,  who 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  229 

died  in  September,  1858,  leaving  four  children.  About  a  year  after 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  E.  Kleihu, 
and  to  this  marriage  there  were  born  nine  children,  three  of  whom 
— Retina  E.,  Louis  and  Emilie — are  still  living.  His  second  wife 
passed  away  on  March  14,  1903,  leaving  him  for  the  second  time  a 
widower.  Mr.  Bolster  is  a  member  of  Jefferson  lodge,  No.  288, 
F.  and  A.  M.  ;  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Granite  lodge, 
No.  664,  and  Kurner  lodge,  No.  45,  Knights  of  Pythias,  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  For  some  time 
he  was  president  of  the  church  organization,  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  board  of  trustees.  Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  repub- 
lican, and  as  such  he  has  held  his  various  official  positions. 

.:"■.  JOHN     HOCK,    the     thirteenth- ward 

member  of  the  select  council  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Pa.,  was  born  in  the  second 
ward  of  that  city  in  1863.  His  parents 
were  Adam  and  Katherine  Hock,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased,  the  latter  dying 
in  1880  and  the  former  in  1892.  As  a 
boy,  John  attended  the  Name  of  Jesus 
parochial  school,  in  which  he  acquired  his 
education.  Upon  leaving  school,  he 
started  in  to  learn  the  cabinet-makers' 
trade.  Circumstances,  however,  con- 
strained him  to  change  his  occupation, 
and  during  the  next  few  years  he  was  successively  employed  in  a 
grocery,  a  shoe  store  and  a  machine  shop.  He  then  spent  four 
years  in  learning  the  cabinet-makers'  trade,  and  later  learned  the 
business  of  paper-hanging.  In  1889  he  opened  a  wall-paper  store 
at  No.  (ii  Lourie  St.,  which  he  conducted  until  1894,  when  he 
started  his  hotel  and  place  of  entertainment  at  No.  225  Lourie  St., 
in  which  he  has  ever  since  continued.  Although  Mr.  Hock  has 
thus  been  engaged  in  different  lines  of  business,  it  must  not  be 
inferred  that  he  is  a  "Jack  of  all  trades  and  good  at  none,"  for  in 
all  his  ventures  he  has  been  measurably  successful,  and  has  accu- 
mulated enough  of  this  world's  goods  to  render  him,  if  not  inde- 
pendent, at  least  comfortable.  On  all  questions  of  a  political 
nature  he  acts  with  the  democratic  party,  and  his  political  standing 
may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  in  1899  he  was  elected  to  the  common 
council,  and  in  1901  to  the  select  council,  from  the  thirteenth 
ward.     In  the  select  council  he  was  appointed  on  the  committees 


230  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

of  public  works,  public  safety  and  grade  crossings,  three  of  the 
most  important  of  the  standing  committees  He  was  married, 
Aug.  I,  1893,  to  Miss  Mary  Walsh,  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and  four 
children  have  been  born  to  the  union,  Mary,  John,  Anna  and 
Joseph.  Mr.  Hock  is  a  member  of  the  Holy  Name  Roman  Cath- 
olic church.  In  both  church  and  political  circles  he  has  a  large 
number  of  acquaintances,  who  esteem  him  for  his  real  worth,  and 
who,  knowing  his  merits,  are  ready  to  entrust  him  with  the  man- 
agement of  their  affairs. 

JOHN  H.  KEANE,  a  plumber  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive young  business  men  of  that  city.  He 
was  born  there  in  1870,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  Sacred  Heart  and  the 
St.  Andrew's  schools.  His  first  work  was 
in  a  steel  mill,  where  he  was  employed 
for  about  three  years,  after  which  he  was 
for  a  few  months  in  the  sheet-iron  depart- 
ment of  the  Righter  &  Connelly  works. 
In  1888  he  started  in  to  learn  the  plumb- 
ing trade  with  Henry  Fishering,  one  of 
the  leading  plumbers  of  Allegheny  city, 
but  a  year  later  changed  to  the  shop  of  Weldon  &  Kelly,  of  Pitts- 
burg. He  remained  with  this  firm  for  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  learned  the  trade  thoroughly,  and,  in  1894,  went  into  the 
business  for  himself,  locating  at  No.  696  Preble  Ave.,  Allegheny 
city.  At  the  close  of  a  year  he  sold  out  to  George  Davis  and  went 
to  Frankfort,  Ky.,  opening  a  plumbing  establishment  there.  He 
soon  returned  to  Allegheny  city,  however,  and  bought  a  partner- 
ship interest  in  the  old  house  with  Mr.  Davis,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues. In  1902  the  firm  removed  to  their  present  commodious 
quarters  at  No.  655  Preble  Ave.  Mr.  Keane  is  a  democrat,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  that  party  in  the  ninth  ward, 
where  he  resides.  In  February,  1901,  he  was  elected  to  the  com- 
mon council,  and,  in  1903,  he  was  re-elected  by  a  decisive  majority, 
the  general  opinion  being  that  he  was  an  able  and  trustworthy 
representative  of  the  ward.  In  the  council  he  was  appointed  on 
the  committees  on  corporations,  grade  crossings  and  public  works. 
On  Christmas  day,  in  1893,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rose  G. 
Hannan,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  one  son,  William  H.  Keane,  has 
been  born  to  them.     Mr.  Keane  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  231 

No.  339.  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  Lodge  No.  285,  Knights  of  Columbus. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  Catholic  church,  at  which  he 
and  his  family  are  regular  attendants. 

RICHARD  Mccormick,  a  promi- 
nent democratic  politician  of  the  first 
ward  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  June  i,  1862,  and  is  the 
son  of  Dillian  J.  and  Bridget  McCormick. 
When  Richard  was  about  three  years  old 
the  family  removed  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va. , 
where  he  attended  the  parochial  schools, 
securing  a  fair  education,  after  which  he 
went  to  work  in  the  Riverside  iron  works, 
while  still  in  his  boyhood.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  a 
puddler  and  had  charge  of  a  furnace. 
He  remained  with  the  Riverside  iron  works  until  he  was  nearly 
twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  where  for  the 
next  four  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Chess,  Cook  &  Co.  and 
Jones  &  Laughlin.  Returning  to  Wheeling,  he  was  for  some  time 
with  the  Whitaker  iron  company,  when  he  was  appointed  keeper  at 
the  West  Virginia  State  prison,  and  was  shortly  afterwards  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  deputy  warden.  He  surrendered  the 
place  after  a  few  months  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  Lindsley  & 
McCutcheon,  of  Allegheny,  until  1889.  In  the  meantime  he  repre- 
sented Royal  lodge,  No.  34,  Amalgamated  Association  of  Iron  and 
Steel  Workers,  at  the  national  conventions  of  1887  and  1888.  In 
1889  he  took  a  position  with  the  National  tube  company,  in  the 
furnace  department  of  the  McKeesport  works.  In  1892  he  left  the 
tube  works  to  become  a  fireman  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad. 
Two  years  later  he  became  associated  with  the  banking  house  of 
N.  Holmes  &  Son,  of  Pittsburg,  remaining  with  them  until  1895, 
when  he  was  granted  a  license  to  conduct  a  hotel  in  East  Pittsburg. 
His  establishment  there,  which  he  conducted  until  1900,  was  fitted 
up  at  an  outlay  of  about  $40,000,  being  one  of  the  best  appointed 
in  that  section  of  the  city.  In  1900  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature,  and  on  account  of  political  considerations  a  renewal  of 
his  license  was  refused.  Mr.  McCormick  then  bought  his  present 
place  of  business,  at  No.  105  Ohio  St.,  Allegheny  city,  which  he  has 
ever  since  conducted.  For  ten  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
democratic  county  committee,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  all  politi- 


232  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

cal  movements,  especially  those  bearing  on  city  and  county  govern- 
ment. In  1903  he  represented  the  first  district  in  the  democratic 
State  convention  at  Harrisburg.  On  March  25,  1882,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Campbell,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  They  have  one 
son,  Dillian  J.  McCormick,  who  was  graduated  in  1902  from  Mt. 
St.  Mary's  college,  located  at  Emmetsburg,  Md.,  and  who  is  now 
a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  engineering  corps.  The  young 
man  bids  fair  to  follow  in  his  father's  footsteps.  Mr.  McCormick 
is  an  influential  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  liquor  league, 
representing  that  organization  in  the  legislature  of  1901.  He  is 
also  a  prominent  life  member  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O. 
Elks.  Both  father  and  son  are  well  known  in  Allegheny  city, 
where  those  who  know  them  best  will  testify  to  their  worth  and 
popularity  as  citizens. 

DR.  FRANK  H.  FREDERICK,  one 
of  the  leading  young  physicians  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  and  councilman  of  the  fifth 
ward,  was  born  in  Richmond,  Ohio,  in 
1870.  He  attended  the  district  school  in 
his  boyhood  days,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen became  the  teacher  of  the  same 
school.  When  he  was  seventeen  years 
old  he  entered  Richmond  college,  took 
the  full  four-year  course,  and  graduated 
in  1891.  He  spent  one  term  in  the  col- 
lege at  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  began  his 
medical  education  in  the  Western  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  In  1897  he  received  his  degree  of  M.  D. 
from  the  university,  and  for  the  next  year  was  interne  in  the  Alle- 
gheny general  hospital.  In  1898  he  opened  an  office  for  the  gen- 
eral practice  of  medicine  at  No.  1335  Rebecca  St.,  Allegheny  city, 
where  he  is  still  located,  and  where  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice. 
Although  his  first  consideration  is  for  his  patients  and  in  keeping 
up  with  the  march  of  medical  progress,  Dr.  Frederick  still  finds 
time  to  take  an  interest  in  matters  relating  to  public  policy.  He 
is  particularly  interested  in  having  a  good  local  government,  and 
his  activity  along  this  line  led  to  his  election  to  the  common  council, 
in  February,  1903.  He  was  elected  on  the  straight  republican 
ticket,  having  affiliated  with  that  party  ever  since  he  reached  his 
majority.  As  a  member  of  the  council,  he  was  appointed  to  places 
on  the  committees  on  corporations  and  finance,  two  of  the  leading 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  233 

committees  of  the  municipal  legislature.  Dr.  Frederick  is  well 
known  in  fraternal  orders,  being  a  member  of  Stuckrath  lodge, 
No.  430,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  of  the  Pittsburg  consis- 
tory, in  which  he  holds  the  rank  of  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason; 
Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  Ethel  conclave, 
No.  314,  Order  of  Heptasophs.  He  was  married,  in  1899,  to  Miss 
Mary  Patterson,  of  Allegheny  city,  an  estimable  lady,  who  shares 
with  him  his  triumphs  and  sympathizes  with  him  in  his  troubles. 

MICHAEL  J.  BROWN,  the  proprietor 
of  the  Hotel  Brown,  at  No.  615  Preble 
Ave.,  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county.  Pa.,  in  1854.  His 
parents,  John  and  Josephine  Brown,  are 
both  deceased.  When  Michael  was  a 
small  boy  the  family  removed  to  Alle- 
gheny city,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  ninth  ward,  after 
which  he  began  his  business  life  as  an 
employe  of  the  Oliver  &  Lewis  manu- 
facturing company,  in  their  hinge  factory. 
From  that  time  until  about  fourteen  years  ago  he  worked  in  the 
various  mills  of  the  county.  He  then  assumed  the  management  of 
the  Hotel  Brown,  which  he  conducted  for  his  mother  until  1891, 
when  he  took  full  control,  and  has  continued  in  that  business  until 
the  present  time.  Under  his  management  the  Hotel  Brown  has 
become  one  of  the  popular  hostelries  of  the  city,  as  he  has  a  kind 
word  for  every  one  and  is  attentive  to  the  wants  of  his  guests. 
He  was  married,  in  1901,  to  Mary  (Woods)  Murphy,  of  Allegheny 
city,  who  is  as  popular  with  the  patrons  of  the  hotel  as  her  genial 
husband.  Mr.  Brown  is  one  of  the  best-known  democrats  of  the 
ninth  ward,  and  has  been  twice  elected  to  represent  the  ward  in 
the  select  council,  the  first  time  in  1897,  and  the  second  in  1901. 
As  a  member  of  the  select  council,  he  was  honored  by  a  place  on 
some  of  the  most  important  committees,  being  one  of  the  com- 
mittee on  public'  works,  the  committee  on  public  safety  and  the 
committee  on  public  corporations.  His  record  as  a  councilman  is 
characteristic  of  the  man.  It  is  an  open  book,  in  which  one  may 
read  of  his  sterling  integrity,  his  ready  grasp  of  public  questions, 
and  his  devotion  to  public  duty. 


234  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

JOHN    McNALLY,    member    of   the 
common  council  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa., 
from  the  ninth  ward,  is  a  native  of  the 
^HBBp'    Jtk  ward  he  so  ably  represents  in  the  munic- 

^B*^     ^t>  ipal     legislature.      His    father,     Thomas 

^     "^-  ^  >^flE  McNally,  represented  the  ward  for  twelve 

^Maj/fF  years   in   both    the   common    and    select 

i  -^^H^^I^HMjl^^        councils,  and  the  son  seems  to  have  in- 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^       herited  his  faculty  for  readily  grasping 
^^^^^^^^^^^r        municipal     problems    and   dealing    with 
^^^^^^^^^^r  them.     John  McNally  was  born  in  1876. 

^^^^^^^^r  His  elementary  education  was   obtained 

in  the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  city, 
after  which  he  attended,  for  a  short  time,  the  Holy  Ghost  college, 
and  finished  his  education  at  St.  Vincent's  college,  located  at 
Latrobe,  Pa.  Upon  leaving  school,  he  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  liquor  business  in  Allegheny  city,  and  continued  in 
that  vocation  until  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1902,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  business.  His  mother,  Mary  McNally,  passed  to  her 
final  rest  in  189 1.  In  February,  1903,  Mr.  McNally  was  chosen  by 
a  handsome  majority  to  represent  the  ward  in  the  common  council, 
and  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
solid  business  men  of  the  city,  and  is  an  influential  member  of  St. 
Andrew's  Catholic  church. 

WILLIAM    E.     KIMBERLIN,     who 

§  represents  the  second  ward  of  Allegheny 

city.  Pa.,  in  the  common  council,  was 
born  in  Allegheny  city,  in  1861,  and  at 
the  age  of  three  months  became  a  resident 
of  the  second  ward,  where  he  has  lived 
ever  since.  His  entire  education  was 
^^^^  ^  acquired   in    the    public    schools    of    the 

^^^^Hll^V^^^        ward,    for  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he 
^^^^H^Kj^^^V         went  into  business  for  himself,  starting  a 
^^^H^^^Hh^  meat   market  on   Beaver    avenue.     Five 

'i^'w'^"*''  years  later  he  went  into  partnership  with 

his  father  in  the  same  line  of  business. 
This  partnership  lasted  until  1898,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  to 
his  father  and  associated  himself  with  the  Pittsburg  provision  and 
packing  company,  located  on  Hare's  island,  as  a  buyer  of  small 
stock,   assuming  charge   of   that   department,  for  which  his   long 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  235 

experience  gave  him  the  essential  qualifications.  Mr.  Kimberlin 
was  married  in  1882  to  Miss  Ella  Bourne,  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
three  sons  have  been  born  to  the  marriage.  The  eldest  son,  Oliver 
J.,  is  now  a  page  of  the  Allegheny  city  common  council;  the  second 
son,  Frank  B.,  is  connected  with  the  Pittsburg  packing  company 
as  weighmaster,  and  the  third  son,  Howard  S.,  is  in  the  high 
school.  Politically,  Mr.  Kimberlin  is  a  republican,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  affairs,  particularly  those  affecting  the 
local  interests.  In  1895  he  was  elected  to  the  common  council,  and 
has  been  re-elected  at  each  succeeding  election,  now  serving  his 
fourth  term.  He  is  chairman  of  the  council  committee  on  public 
safety,  and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  corporations,  public 
works  and  finance.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  the  following  Masonic  bodies:  Allegheny  lodge, 
No.  223;  Allegheny  chapter.  No.  217;  Allegheny  commandery.  No. 
35 ;  the  Pittsburg  consistory.  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite, 
and  Syria  temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Emanuel  Episcopal  church. 

JOSIAH  S.  DUFF,  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  Allegheny   city,    Pa.,    and 
representative   of   the   first  ward  in   the 
common   council,    was  born  in    Belmont 
county,     Ohio,     in     1855.     His    parents, 
Thomas  and  Margaret  Duff,  have    both 
joined    the    silent  majority,    the    former 
^^^^      passing   away  in  1875,   and  the  latter  in 
^^^^  ^W'"'^^^^      1888.     As  a  boy,  Dr.   Duff   attended   the 
m^V^Bk^^^^^       public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
^B  W^^^^^F  later  the  high  school  in  the  town  of  Saint 

^,  ..J^^^r  Clairsville.     After   graduating  from  this 

high  school,  he  entered  Franklin  college, 
at  New  Athens,  Ohio,  but  did  not  complete  the  course,  changing 
off  to  the  medical  college  there.  He  then  prosecuted  his  medical 
studies  under  Dr.  Coleman,  a  prominent  physician  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  graduated  froin  the  Columbus  medical  college  in  1881. 
Soon  after  receiving  his  degree,  he  located  in  the  town  of  Cadiz, 
Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  and  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine. 
He  remained  at  Cadiz  about  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  took 
the  medical  course  in  the  University  of  New  York,  graduating 
from   that  institution  in  1888.     In  1886  he  was  elected  coroner  of 


236  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Harrison  county,  Ohio,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  he  removed  to  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  set- 
tling in  the  first  ward,  where  he  soon  built  up  a  lucrative  practice. 
He  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  leading  local  politicians,  and 
being  an  active  republican,  was  admitted  to  the  councils  of  that 
party's  leaders.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent the  first  ward  in  the  common  council,  where  he  has  been 
honored  by  appointment  on  the  finance,  library  and  public  safety 
committees.  But  Dr.  Duff's  activity  in  political  matters  has  never 
been  permitted  to  interfere  with  his  professional  duties.  He  is, 
first  of  all,  a  physician,  and  the  wants  of  his  patients  receive  his 
first  consideration.  He  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  county  medical 
society,  American  medical  association  and  of  Allegheny  lodge.  No. 
339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church.  In  his  church,  his  lodges,  the  city  council  and  his 
private  practice.  Dr.  Duff  is  held  in  high  regard  because  of  his 
scholarly  attainments,  his  gentlemanly  bearing,  and  above  all,  his 
sterling  character. 

JOSEPH  WEIS,  third-ward  member 
of  the  common  council  of  Allegheny  city. 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in 
1850.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and 
Akoda  Weis,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
1878.  Joseph  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Baden,  after  which  he  learned  the 
trade  of  brewer,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  came  to  America.  Locating  in 
Allegheny  city,  he  obtained  employment 
with  the  Heckelman  brewer}',  in  the  third 
ward,  until  1873,  when  he  started  in 
business  for  himself,  opening  what  was 
called  the  Hoffman  brewery.  He  continued  in  the  business  until 
T877,  when  he  converted  his  brewery  into  a  malt  house.  In  1890 
he  started  the  hotel  and  cafe  at  No.  717  Chestnut  St.,  of  which  he 
is  still  the  proprietor  and  manager.  The  malt  house  was  remodeled 
into  a  flat  in  1894,  and  since  that  time  he  has  devoted  himself 
exclusively  to  his  hotel  and  his  official  duties  as  councilman.  Mr. 
Weis  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  it  was  as  a  representative  of  that 
party  he  was  elected  to  the  council  in  February,  1903.  In  the 
council  he  is  a  member  of  the  committees  on  public  works,  library 
and  water  supply.     Mr.  Weis  is  a  member  of  the  Turnverein,  sev- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  237 

eral  German  clubs,  the  Catholic  mutual  benefit  association,  No.  79, 
and  the  Catholic  church.  He  was  married,  in  18 71,  to  Miss 
Josephine  Hoffman,  of  Allegheny,  Pa.  She  died  in  1880,  and  the 
following  year  he  was  married  to  Theresa  Grapp,  of  Allegheny 
city.  By  this  second  marriage  he  has  three  children,  named 
Joseph,  Jr.,  Mary  and  Helen,  Mrs.  Weis  died  in  1891.  Mr.  Weis 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  and  representa- 
tive citizens  of  the  third  ward,  and  his  place  of  entertainment  is 
one  of  the  popular  resorts  of  the  city. 

HERMAN  KAPPELER,  member  of 
the  Allegheny  city  common  council  from 
the  fourth  ward,  was  born  in  Germany  in 
i860.  Until  he  was  about  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  town.  The  family  then  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  in  Butler  county, 
Pa  ,  where  Herman  found  employment 
in  Stehle's  furnishing  store.  His  par- 
ents, Gregory  and  Ottilea  Kappeler,  both 
died  in  the  year  1896.  About  1878  Her- 
man went  to  Braddock,  Pa.,  and  entered 
the  metal  department  of  the  Carnegie 
steel  works,  remaining  there  for  two  years.  He  then  went  to 
Pittsburg,  and  for  the  next  two  years  was  employed  in  a  grocery. 
In  T883  he  went  to  the  Lake  Chautauqua  company,  of  Pittsburg,  as 
a  helper,  but  gradually  rose  to  the  position  of  assistant  superin- 
tendent, in  which  he  continued  for  several  years.  In  1S98  he 
started  the  Anti-trust  ice  company,  of  Allegheny  city,  with  oflfices 
at  No.  919  Ohio  St.  For  some  time  Mr.  Kappeler  had  a  hard  fight 
to  establish  his  business,  as  all  the  large  ice  dealers  combined 
against  him.  He  finally  overcame  all  the  difficulties,  putting  his 
company  on  a  sure  footing,  where  it  still  continues,  with  himself  as 
manager  and  principal  owner.  Politically,  Mr.  Kappeler  is  a 
republican,  and,  in  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  the  common 
council  from  the  fourth  ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the  council 
committees  on  water  supply,  library  and  corporations.  In  1884  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  R.  Dietz,  of  Allegheny  city.  He  and 
his  wife  are  regular  attendants  at  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O  Elks.  Mr. 
Kappeler  deserves  great  credit  for  the  victory  he  achieved  over 
the  opposition  of  the  combined  ice  interests  of  the  city,  and  in  a 


238  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

way  he  is  a  benefactor  to  the  people  of  Allegheny  city,  in  that  he 
made  it  possible  for  them  to  secure  their  ice  supply  at  reasonable 
prices,  thus  deserving  all  the  success  that  has  come  to  him. 

ELLIOT  McCALL,  senior  partner  of 
the  firm  of  McCall,  Rowlan  &  Newburn, 
live-stock  brokers,  is  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Pa.,  having  been  born  in  the  city 
of  Chambersburg,  Dec.  13,  1842.  While 
he  was  still  in  his  early  boyhood,  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Mt.  Carroll,  111.  Here 
Mr.  McCall  attended  a  private  school  and 
afterwards  graduated  from  the  Mt.  Car- 
roll academy.  For  several  years  he 
assisted  his  father,  Henry  McCall,  in  the 
management  of  his  farms,  and  in  buying 
and  shipping  cattle.  In  1864  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  A,  145th  Illinois  infantry.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  detail  duty  until  the  following  summer,  when  the 
men  were  honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  111.  While  serving 
with  his  regiment,  Mr.  McCall  was  one  of  the  100  men  detailed  to 
guard  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  in  the  Springfield  ceme- 
tery. After  the  war  he  returned  to  Mt.  Carroll,  where  he  again 
became  associated  with  his  father  in  farming  and  live-stock  opera- 
tions. About  this  time  he  also  taught  school  a  few  terms.  At 
Fairhaven,  111.,  was  a  school  that  had  trouble  to  retain  a  teacher 
on  account  of  unruly  boys.  Mr.  McCall  held  a  high-grade  certifi- 
cate and  was  given  the  principalship  at  Fairhaven.  He  soon  dis- 
covered that  heroic  treatment  was  the  only  thing  that  would  be  of 
any  avail  in  the  management  ot  the  school,  so  he  called  up  three 
of  the  ringleaders  in  mischief  and  gave  them  a  severe  drubbing. 
His  determined  methods  won  the  respect  of  the  young  ruffians, 
and  the  school  afterwards  became  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 
In  1868  Mr.  McCall  came  to  Pittsburg  with  a  carload  of  horses. 
After  disposing  of  them  he  decided  to  remain  in  Pittsburg,  and 
became  associated  with  the  firm  of  Saddly,  Havens  &  Co.,  at  the 
central  stockyards.  Later  the  firm  was  known  as  Saddly  & 
McCall,  and  still  later  as  McCall  &  Co.  For  the  last  twelve  years 
he  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  firm  of  McCall,  Rowlan  &  Newburn, 
doing  a  general  live-stock  brokerage  business,  and  is  one  of  the 
best-known  houses  of  its  kind  in  the  east.  Mr.  McCall  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  although  he  takes  a  lively  interest  in  political  contests. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  239 

he  could  never  be  persuaded  to  become  a  candidate  for  public 
office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  talents  to  his  live-stock 
business,  for  which  he  is  peculiarly  adapted.  His  brother, 
Samuel  W.  McCall,  has  for  many  years  represented  the  eighth 
Massachusetts  district  in  congress. 

®COURSIN  L.  MOHNEY,  who  repre- 
sents the  tenth  ward  of  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.,  in  the  common  council,  is  a  native 
of  Clarion  county.  Pa.,  where  he  was  born 
in  i860,  his  parents  being  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  Mohney.  Until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Mohney  attended  the 
public  schools.  After  leaving  school,  he 
taught  for  about  three  years  in  Jefferson 
county.  Pa.,  and  then  came  to  Pittsburg, 
where  he  took  a  commercial  course  in 
Duff's  college.  Shortly  after  finishing 
his  education,  he  began  contracting  and 
building,  operating  throughout  the  country.  He  followed  this 
business  until  1901,  when  he  became  one  of  the  firm  of  Langenheim, 
Cochran  &  Co.,  with  offices  and  works  located  at  Nos.  1221  to  1225 
Penn  Ave.,  Allegheny  city.  Mr.  Mohney  is  a  member  of  Alle- 
gheny lodge,  No.  1057,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Lodge 
No.  157,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and  Alle- 
gheny lodge.  No.  214,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  stanch  democrat,  and  has  always  taken  a  keen  inter- 
est in  questions  of  public  policy.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected 
to  the  common  council  from  the  tenth  ward,  and  upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  new  council,  he  was  appointed  on  the  committees  on 
surveys  and  public  works— committees  for  which  his  long  expe- 
rience as  a  contractor  and  builder  gave  him  a  peculiar  fitness,  as  his 
colleagues  have  learned.  In  1883  Miss  Annie  Degroff,  an  esti- 
mable young  lady  of  Verona,  Pa.,  became  Mrs,  Mohney,  and  four 
children  were  born  to  this  union.  Two  of  these  children,  Eva  and 
Clyde,  are  still  living,  Clare  and  Paul  being  deceased.  Although 
not  an  old  man,  Mr.  Mohney 's  life  has  been  one  of  unusual  activity, 
and  he  has  accomplished  as  much  as  many  men  who  are  his  senior 
by  several  years.  Some  of  the  largest  and  finest  buildings  in  Pitts- 
burg, Allegheny  city  and  the  surrounding  country  have  been 
erected  under  his  personal  supervision,  and  few  contractors  are 
better  known  or  sustain  a  higher  reputation. 


240  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

SIMON    O'DONNELL,   general  man- 
ager of  the  Pittsburg  union  stockyards, 
and  one  of  the  principal  stockholders  in 
the    Pittsburg    packing    company,    is    a 
_,^„,^^^^^      notable    example   of   a    self-made    man. 
<i^E^  y^^^^k     He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1847,  but  at  an 

^^"  ^^^^^     early  age  came  with  his  parents  to  Amer- 

ica. Circumstances  prevented  his  receiv- 
ing more  than  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  even  while  attending  the  New 
York  public  schools,  he  drove  cattle  at 
the  markets,  on  Saturdays  and  during 
vacation  time,  to  assist  his  parents. 
There  was  something  about  the  cattle  business  that  had  an  irresist- 
ible attraction  for  the  little  Irish  lad,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  went  to  Champaign  county.  111.,  with  a  large  stock-dealer, 
named  B.  F  Harris.  This  was  the  beginning  of  Mr.  O'Donnell's 
career  as  a  stockman.  Five  years  later  he  was  at  the  Fort  Wayne 
yards  in  Chicago,  superintending  the  shipment  of  cattle  bought  by 
the  United  States  government  for  army  supplies.  Shortly  after 
the  war,  in  1867,  he  went  to  Jersey  City  and  took  charge  of  the 
stockyards  which  had  just  been  established  there.  While  in  charge 
of  the  Jersey  City  yards,  Mr.  O'Donnell  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  Samuel  W.  Allerton,  of  Chicago,  who  is  said  to  be  the  largest 
cattle-raiser  in  the  world.  Mr.  Allerton  saw  in  the  young  Irish- 
man a  stockman  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  judgment,  and 
took  him  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  buying 
and  selling  departments  of  Mr.  Allerton's  immense  business.  For 
more  than  thirty  years  Mr.  O'Donnell  was  associated  with  Mr. 
Allerton,  and  the  acquaintance  thus  formed  ripened  into  a  friend- 
ship that  remains  unbroken.  It  was  largely  through  Mr.  Allerton's 
influence  that  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  company  selected  Mr. 
O'Donnell  as  manager  of  the  central  stockyards  at  Pittsburg,  and, 
on  Jan.  i,  1898,  placed  him  in  full  control  of  the  yards.  Although 
the  yards  were  finely  equipped,  they  had  never  done  a  satisfactory 
business  until  after  Mr.  O'Donnell  was  placed  in  charge.  As  an 
advertising  measure,  he  inaugurated  the  "annual  fat-stock  show." 
The  first  exhibition  of  this  kind  was  given  in  1899,  and  the  experi- 
ment has  been  repeated  every  year  since  with  increasing  interest 
in  the  undertaking.  According  to  one  of  the  Pittsburg  papers, 
over  60,000  visitors  attended  the  fat-stock  show  on  one  day,  during 
the  exhibition  of  1901,  and  at  the  close  of  the  show  some  of  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  241 

prize  winners  sold  at  auction  for  more  than  twenty-one  cents  per 
pound,  gross,  the  highest  price  ever  paid  for  cattle  in  this  country. 
Mr.  O'Donnell  received  hundreds  of  congratulatory  telegrams  from 
stockmen  and  railroad  magnates  all  over  the  country,  on  his 
successful  conduct  of  the  enterprise.  It  is  said  that  Mr,  O'Donnell 
knows  more  men  in  the  live-stock  trade  than  any  other  man  in  the 
United  States.  Besides  being  manager  of  the  new  union  stock- 
yards, he  is  a  director  in  the  Pittsburg  packing  company,  and  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Smith,  Carey  &  Co.,  at  the  Chicago  union 
stockyards.  On  Nov.  7,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret 
Pearson,  of  New  Jersey,  who  died  April  23,  1903,  and  to  this  union 
two  daughters  and  one  son  have  been  born.  One  of  the  daughters 
recently  died.  Mr.  O'Donnell  is  a  member  of  Pittsburg  lodge. 
No.  II,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  the  Order  of  Foresters,  and  other  fraternal 
and  benevolent  organizations,  but  generally  prefers  the  society  of 
his  own  family  circle.  Starting  in  life  with  no  capital  except  intel- 
ligence, strict  honesty,  steadfast  devotion  to  duty,  a  high  order  of 
executive  ability,  and,  above  all,  a  determination  to  succeed,  he 
has  risen,  step  by  step,  to  be  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  of  the 
country.  Known  and  trusted  by  millionaires  and  railroad  presi- 
dents, he  has  never  become  unduly  impressed  with  his  own 
importance,  but  to  his  friends  he  is  always  the  same  genial,  great- 
hearted Simon  O'Donnell. 

JESSE    H.     SHEASLEY,     first- ward 
^1^^^  member  of  the  common  council  of  Alle- 

^^^^^'^k  gheny  city.  Pa.,  and  one  of  the  principal 

^  ^k  stockholders  in  the  Specialty  paint  com- 

•    ■  ^^      iP  pany,  was  born  in  Armstrong  county,  in 

^E  1868,    and   is  the  son  of  William  T.  and 

"^f^  Sarah  Jane  (Williams)   Sheasley,    highly 

J^       JW^  respected    citizens    of    Kittanning.     The 

^^■^L^'"   ^^^        father   is  now  living  a  quiet,  retired  life 
^^^^^  ^^m         after  years  in  the  lumber  business.     Mr. 

^^H  ^^  Sheasley  received   the  major  part  of  his 

^^'        ^r  education     in     the     district     schools     of 

Armstrong  county,  and  started  in  at  an 
€arly  age  to  learn  the  ship-building  trade,  in  the  yards  at  Brown's 
station.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  where  he 
-obtained  employment  with  the  Pittsburg  «&  Western  railroad  com- 
pany as  a  depot  carpenter.  After  one  year  with  the  railroad  com- 
pany,  he  went  to  the  Manchester    steamboat    docks,     where    he 

1-16 


242  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

remained  for  three  years,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W. 
S.  Lyons  in  the  grocery  business,  at  No,  728  Rebecca  St., 
Allegheny  city.  This  partnership  lasted  for  seven  years,  when  Mr. 
Sheasley  bought  his  partner's  interest  and  continued  the  business 
by  himself  until  1900,  when  he  sold  out,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  organizing  of  the  Penn  oil  and  paint  company,  and  a  little 
later  became  the  treasurer  of  the  Specialty  paint  company,  of 
Pittsburg.  Mr.  Sheasley  takes  an  active  interest  in  political 
matters  and  is  one  of  the  republican  leaders  in  the  first  ward.  In 
February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  ward  in  the  com- 
mon council,  and  his  record  there  has  shown  that  the  people  of  the 
ward  made  no  mistake  in  entrusting  their  interests  to  his  keeping. 

JOHN  G.  ALLMAN,  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Hilldorfer  &  Allman,  is  a 
native  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  born  in  1872.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Amelia  Allman,  the  latter  of  whom 
passed  away  in  1873,  leaving  him  without 
the  tender  care  of  a  mother  when  he  was 
but  one  year  old.  Until  he  was  eleven 
years  of  age  he  attended  the  Etna  public 
school,  and  from  that  time  until  he  was 
fourteen  he  was  in  attendance  at  the  third 
ward  public  schools  in  Allegheny  city. 
He  then  started  to  work  in  the  rope  store 
of  Gerwig  &  Sons,  on  Penn  avenue,  but  after  three  years  with  this 
firm,  he  went  with  Zoller  &  Co.  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  butcher. 
For  three  years  he  remained  with  this  firm  at  their  establishment 
in  Spring  Garden  borough,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  John  S. 
Wilson  &  Co.  at  the  Diamond  market.  Since  1899  he  has  been  in 
partnership  with  Joseph  P.  Hilldorfer  at  the  same  market  where 
both  members  of  the  firm  served  several  years  as  journeymen. 
From  the  first,  the  business  of  the  firm  has  been  eminently  satis- 
factory. The  two  young  and  active  butchers,  filled  with  a  desire 
to  please,  and  handling  nothing  but  the  best  the  market  afforded, 
drew  to  their  counters  some  of  the  best  patrons  of  the  market. 
Having  once  secured  them,  it  was  not  difficult  to  hold  their  trade, 
for  the  motto  of  Hilldorfer  &  Allman  is:  "Good  goods  and  full 
weight."  No  difference  of  political  opinion  is  ever  likely  to  dis- 
rupt the  harmony  of  the  partnership,  for  Mr.  Allman,  like  his 
partner,  is  an  unswerving  republican,  and  a  resident  of  the  tenth 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  243 

ward.  He  is  a  member  of  Etna  Borough  council,  No.  961,  Royal 
Arcanum;  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  Pittsburg 
lodge.  No.  50,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Iron  City  lodge.  No.  182, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1897  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Brinker,  of  Etna  borough,  and  two  little 
sons,  Roy  and  William,  have  come  to  brighten  their  home. 

.  ^^•.-  SIMON   SCHLEICH,  member  of  the 

y««^Bfc|^^k  common  council  from  the  fourth  ward  of 

/  fl^^k         Allegheny   city,    Pa.,  is   a  native  of  the 

J^  V^^Hk      ^^^hth  ward  of  the  same  city,  where  he 
^^        ^«M^^r^      ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^"^'  ^'^  parents  being  John 
'      ^'^mm  ^^'^  Agnes  Schleich.     Both  parents  have 

i^^^JIt^         __      passed  away,  the  father  dying  in  1879,  and 
^^^^^^^JJ^B|MBf     the  mother  in  1892.     Simon  attended  the 
^^H^H^^L^V      St.   Mary's  Catholic  school  until  he  was 
^^^^^^BK^V        fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
^^^^^^^B^  work  with  the  Crawford  manufacturing 

^^^^^^^  company,  of  Allegheny  city,  to  learn  the 

trade  of  brass  and  iron  molder.  He 
stayed  with  the  Crawford  company  for  eight  years,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  connected  with  some  of  the  leading  firms  in  that  line 
of  work  in  both  Allegheny  city  and  Pittsburg,  being  at  present 
with  the  McKenna  Bros.  Mr.  Schleich  and  family  are  members  of 
St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  where  he  attended  school  as  a  boy. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  79,  Catholic  Mutual  Benefit 
Association;  Bailey  &  Farrell  manufacturing  company's  beneficial 
association,  of  Pittsburg,  and  Pittsburg  lodge,  No.  184,  Iron  and 
Brass  Molders'  association.  In  the  last-named  organization  he 
has  been  both  recording  and  corresponding  secretary,  treasurer, 
trustee  and  delegate  to  several  of  the  national  conventions  of  the 
Iron  and  Brass  Molders'  union.  In  political  matters  he  is  a  demo- 
crat, and  is  generally  an  active  participant  in  political  movements. 
In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  fourth  ward  in 
the  common  council,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the  committees  on 
water  and  public  safety.  In  1880  he  was  married  to  Miss  Katherine 
Scheigg,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  nine  children  have  been  born  to 
them.  Of  these,  Agnes  and  Bertha  are  married;  Katherine,  Flora 
and  Simon  are  deceased,  and  Laura,  Stella,  Hilda  and  Edna  are 
living  at  home  with  their  parents.  Through  hard  work  and  econ- 
omy, Mr.  Schleich  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  comfortable  home 
for  himself  and  family. 


244  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

SAMUEL  J.  GRENET,  one  of  the 
youngest  and  most  prominent  and 
respected  citizens  of  Allegheny  city, 
whose  efficient  services  as  deputy  sheriff 
form  a  part  of  the  history  of  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.,  was  born  in  the  sixth  ward, 
in  1869.  His  parents,  Capt.  James  H. 
and  Matilda  (Faulkner)  Grenet,  have 
both  passed  away.  When  a  boy,  Samuel 
attended  the  public  schools  of  the  fifth 
and  sixth  wards  for  a  short  time  only. 
At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  secured  employ- 
ment with  a  milk  dealer.  From  here  he 
entered  the  brickyards  of  his  maternal  grandfather,  Henry  Faulk- 
ner, where  he  remained  until  his  sixteenth  year.  About  this  time 
he  entered  the  iron  mills  of  the  Oliver  iron  and  steel  company,  in 
the  lower  part  of  Allegheny,  and  continued  in  their  employ  until 
1896,  when  the  firm  closed  down  its  plant.  He  then  accepted  a 
position  in  the  department  of  highways  and  sewers  of  Allegheny 
city  under  Robert  McAffee,  banking  commissioner  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  was  at  this  time  the  director  of  the  department  of  public 
works.  In  January,  1899,  William  C.  McKinley  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Allegheny  county,  and  upon  assuming  the  duties  of  his 
elective  office,  he  appointed  Mr.  Grenet  one  of  his  deputies,  which 
position  he  held  until  September,  1902,  when  he  resigned.  In 
February,  1902,  he  was  elected  alderman  in  the  eleventh  ward, 
and  remained  in  this  office  until  April  10,  1903,  when  he  resigned 
as  alderman  and  re-entered  the  sheriff's  office.  On  Jan.  4,  1904, 
James  W.  Dickson,  sheriff  of  Allegheny  county,  appointed  Mr. 
Grenet  his  chief  deputy  for  a  term  of  three  years,  which  position 
he  now  holds.  Mr.  Grenet  has  been  for  many  years  an  active 
participant  in  political  affairs,  being  a  close  adherent  to  the  plat- 
form of  the  republican  party.  He  is  now  chairman  of  the  eleventh 
ward  republican  executive  committee,  and  is  a  recognized  party 
leader  of  this  city.  He  is  a  member  and  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Union  League  club  of  Allegheny  city,  where  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Young  Men's  republican 
tariff  club  of  Pittsburg,  and  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge.  No. 
339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  In  1897,  Mr. 
Grenet  married  Miss  Bessie  D.  Workman,  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Oliver  J.  Mr.  Grenet  rarely  forgets  an 
acquaintance,  and  usually  greets  every  one  with  a  smile  and  a  kind 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  245 

word.  To  these  qualities  he  doubtless  owes  his  success  as  a  politi- 
cian, and  it  is  quite  probable  that  still  further  honors  await  him. 
The  parents  of  James  H.  Grenet  were  Henry  J.  Grenet  and  Lettia 
Grenet.  The  father  of  James  H.  Grenet  was  killed  in  the  war  at 
the  battle  of  Cedar  mountain,  Aug.  9,  1862.  His  mother,  Lettia 
Grenet,  died  Nov.  25,  1897,  at  Pittsburg.  His  parents  came  to 
Allegheny  city  from  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1847.  His  father  was 
born  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  South  America,  in  the  year  1819.  The 
parents  of  Matilda  (Faulkner)  Grenet  were  Henry  Faulkner  and 
Sarah  Faulkner.  They  were  both  born  in  Allegheny  city.  Henry 
Faulkner  was  a  well-known  brick  manufacturer  of  Allegheny  city, 
his  parents  being  among  the  first  settlers  in  Allegheny  county. 
They  settled  in  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Manchester.  The 
name  of  the  Faulkners  often  appears  in  the  history  of  Allegheny 
county.  The  war  record  of  Capt.  James  H.  Grenet:  Enlisted  with 
Capt.  H.  K.  Tyler,  of  Company  E,  7th  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers; first  three  months'  service  from  April  16,  1861,  as  a  corporal. 
On  April  24th,  he  was  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  Aug,  5, 
1861.  Re-enlisted  Sept.  6,  186 1,  Company  P,  4th  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  with  Capt.  Samuel  B.  Young,  now  United  States  general. 
Promoted  from  first  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant,  Nov.  4,  1864; 
to  first  lieutenant,  Dec.  13,  1864;  to  captain,  March  8,  1865; 
mustered  out  with  the  company,  July  i,  1865,  a  veteran. 

SAMUEL  F.  BOYD,  who  represents 
the  fourteenth  ward  in  the  common  coun- 
cil of  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  is  a  native  of 
the  second  ward  of  that  city,  having  been 
born  there  in  1868.  His  parents  are 
Thomas  M.,  Sr.,  and  Mary  Boyd,  old  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Allegheny 
city.  While  Samuel  was  still  in  his  early 
childhood,  the  family  removed  to  Shous- 
town,  where  he  received  his  first  intel- 
lectual training  in  the  Shoustown  public 
schools.  It  was  while  living  here  that 
he  earned  his  first  money  (fifteen  cents)  by 
working  on  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie  railroad  bridge.  When  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  his  parents  changed  their  residence 
to  the  second  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  and  there  he  finished  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  ward,  leaving  school  at  the 
age  of  nineteen.     He  then  went  into  the  bakery  of  James  McClurg 


246  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

to  learn  the  trade,  and  remained  there  for  four  years.  Upon  leav- 
ing Mr.  McClurg  he  accepted  a  position  as  assistant  shipper  in  the 
house  of  James  B.  Scott  &  Co.,  No.  328  Second  Ave.,  now 
Follansbee  Bros.,  at  Second,  Third,  Short  and  Liberty  streets, 
where  he  still  continues.  Mr.  Boyd  has  for  many  years  been  a  con- 
sistent republican  and  has  never  refused  to  give  his  aid  to  any 
honorable  movement  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  party.  In 
February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  the  common  council  from  the 
fourteenth  ward,  and  is  now  serving  on  the  committees  on  public 
works,  water  and  surveys.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Luth- 
eran church;  Monument  Castle  lodge,  No.  157,  Knights  of  the 
Mystic  Chain,  and  Allegheny  conclave.  No.  212,  Independent 
Order  of  Heptasophs.  On  Oct.  9,  1891,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Louise  Becker,  a  handsome  and  accomplished  young  lady  of 
Reserve  township,  Allegheny  county.  Pa.,  and  one  daughter, 
Naomi,  has  been  born  to  them.  Mrs.  Boyd  is  the  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Louisa  (King)  Becker,  the  father  being  justice  of  the 
peace  for  twenty- four  consecutive  years  in  his  township,  and  is  also 
ex-captain  of  the  9th  Pennsylvania  reserve  corps.  Mr.  Boyd  is  a 
modest,  unassuming  gentleman  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
men,  but,  nevertheless,  he  is  one  with  the  courage  to  do  the  right 
as  his  judgment  leads  him  to  see  it. 

ABNER  B.  PRUETT,  president  of  the 
Specialty  paint  company,  incorporated, 
located  at  No.  3209  Liberty  Ave.,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  is  a  native  of  Parke  county, 
Ind.,  where  lie  was  born  Jan.  7,  1871. 
He  is  a  son  of  Cyrenius  and  Elizabeth 
Pruett,  members  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  highly  respected  families  in  western 
Indiana.  Mr.  Pruett  received  his  first 
schooling  in  the  little  village  of  Mansfield, 
in  his  native  county,  and  later  attended 
the  Neosho  Falls  college,  taking  the  full 
course.  Until  he  was  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  stayed  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1890  he 
came  to  Allegheny  city,  where  he  found  employment  with  the 
Allegheny  gas  company,  in  the  manufacture  of  artificial  gas.  He 
remained  with  the  gas  company  for  two  years  and  then  entered 
the  employ  of  a  paint  manufacturing  company,  of  Allegheny  city. 
For  eight  years  he  continued  with  this  firm,  learning  every  detail 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  247 

of  the  business.  In  1900  he  formed  the  Penn  oil  and  paint  com- 
pany, though  the  company  was  not  really  incorporated  until  two 
years  later,  with  Mr.  Pruett  as  president.  The  company  later 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  Specialty  paint  company,  being  now 
known  by  that  name.  Politically,  Mr.  Pruett  is  a  republican,  and 
although  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of 
Avalon,  where  he  resides,  he  has  never  aspired  to  public  office, 
preferring  the  more  certain  returns  from  his  business,  to  which  he 
devotes  his  attention.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Etta  McClain,  of 
Allegheny  city,  in  1890,  and  they  have  three  children,  Jessie, 
Ethel  and  Abner.  Mr.  Pruett  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  consistently  practices  the  tenets  of  his  religion  in  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow-men. 

t  CHARLES  A.  SPICER,  second-ward 
member  of  the  common  council  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  is  one  of  the  leading 
photographers  of  Allegheny  county.  He 
was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y. ,  in 
\  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles  A.,  who 
died  in  1895,  and  Achsa  L.  Spicer,  who 
died  in  1901.  While  Charles  was  still  in 
his  early  childhood,  the  family  removed 
to  Wellington,  Ohio,  where  he  received 
his  elementary  education  in  the  public 
schools.  He  afterwards  attended  Oberlin 
college,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  then  went 
into  a  photograph  gallery  at  Wellington,  to  learn  the  business.  In 
this  line  of  work  he  soon  developed  a  skill  that  was  almost  phe- 
nomenal and  as  a  result  his  advancement  was  so  rapid  that  at  the 
age  of  twenty  he  went  into  business  for  himself.  Three  years 
later  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  for  about  two  years  he  was 
associated  with  the  veteran  photographer,  B.  L.  H.  Dabbs.  In 
1890  he  removed  to  Allegheny  city,  locating  at  No.  410  Federal 
St.,  where  he  still  conducts  the  business,  having  one  of  the  best- 
appointed  studios  in  the  city.  Upon  coming  to  Allegheny  city  he 
soon  became  identified  with  all  political  movements,  being  an 
enthusiastic  republican.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  second  ward  in  the  common  council.  In  that  body 
he  is  chairman  of  one  of  the  sub-committees  on  public  safety,  and 
a  member  of  the  committees  on  water  and  charities.  The  com- 
mittee on  public  safety  is  one  of  the  most  important  committees  of 


248  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

the  council,  and  to  be  selected  for  the  chairmanship  of  any  of  its 
sub-committees  is  indeed  an  honor,  but  the  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Spicer  has  conducted  the  affairs  that  have  come  before  his  com- 
mittee shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  fine  executive  power,  and  that  the 
work  is  in  good  hands.  He  was  married,  in  1894,  to  Miss  Ida 
Fisher,  of  Allegheny  city,  who  shares  her  husband's  popularity  in 
Allegheny  city  society. 

JOSEPH  JOHNSON  GILCHRIST,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  legislature  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  on  a 
farm  near  Darlington,  Beaver  county, 
on  Oct.  13,  1872.  He  was  the  fifth  child 
of  Jeremiah  Murry  and  Mary  Ann 
(Arthur)  Gilchrist,  the  father  a  native 
of  Westmoreland  county,  and  the  mother 
of  Ireland,  coming  to  America  when 
a  child,  Jeremiah  Murry  Gilchrist,  a 
highly  respected  citizen  and  business 
man  of  Allegheny,  was  descended  from 
Squire  Murry,  of  Murrysville,  an  old  and 
respected  resident  of  the  city  which  bears  his  name.  Mr.  Gilchrist 
was  engaged  in  the  river  coal  business  during  his  active  years,  and 
upon  his  death,  the  business  was  continued  by  his  three  sons, 
Joseph  J.,  James  O'C.  and  Harry.  Mr.  Joseph  J.  Gilchrist 
received  his  education  in  the  fourth  ward  public  schools  o'f  Alle- 
gheny city,  whither  the  father  had  moved  on  his  taking  up  the  coal 
business.  In  1900  Mr.  Gilchrist  was  elected  to  the  office  of  school 
director  of  the  fourth  ward,  and  in  this  position  attended  to  the 
needs  and  looked  after  the  welfare  of  the  schools  of  that  ward  so 
well  that  his  ability  was  soon  recognized,  and  that,  together  with 
his  popularity,  made  it  evident  that  he  was  cut  out  for  a  public 
career.  He  served  his  ward  two  years  as  school  director,  and  then 
became  a  candidate  on  the  citizens'  ticket  for  a  seat  in  the  State 
legislature.  After  a  hotly  contested  campaign,  he  was  declared 
elected,  and  the  very  fact  that  he  was  on  the  citizens'  ticket  is 
evidence  of  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know 
him.  Mr.  Gilchrist  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  in  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  223;  Allegheny  chapter. 
No.  217;  Allegheny  commandery.  No.  35,  and  Syria  Temple, 
A.    A.   O.    N.   M.    S. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


249 


HARRY  W.  MILLER,  of  Homestead, 
Pa.,  the  popular  and  efficient  teller  of  the 
Homestead  National  bank,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  county, 
Sept.  II,  1878,  and  his  family  history  is 
recited  in  the  sketch  of  J.  Clyde  Miller 
in  this  work.  Harry  Miller  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  completed  his 
classical  training  at  the  Ada  college,  Ada, 
Ohio.  On  leaving  college,  Mr.  Miller 
secured  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  the 
Homestead  National  bank,  and  shortly 
afterwards  was  appointed  to  his  present 
position  of  teller,  in  which  capacity  he  has  made  a  record  which  is 
a  credit  to  himself  and  highly  satisfactory  to  the  stockholders  of 
the  bank.  Mr.  Miller  is  financially  interested  in  a  number  of  home 
enterprises,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Elber  land  improvement  com- 
pany. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Homestead  troop,  charter 
member  of  the  local  lodge  of  Elks,  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Malta,  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  the  Bankers'  and  Bank  Clerks' 
mutual  benefit  association. 


OLIVER  A.  GAILEY,  the  chief  assess- 
or of  Allegheny  city,  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana, Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1862,  and  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  Gailey. 
Andrew  Gailey  was  one  of  the  best- 
known  builders  in  Indiana  county.  After 
a  common-school  education  in  the  ward 
schools  of  his  native  town,  Oliver  learned 
the  carpenters'  trade  with  his  father. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  Alle- 
gheny city,  where  he  worked  as  a  jour- 
neyman carpenter  for  some  years,  and 
then  became  a  contractor  on  his  own 
account.  Some  of  the  best  buildings  in  Allegheny  were  erected  by 
him  while  in  this  business.  In  1890  he  became  interested  in  real 
estate  operations,  and  being  a  man  of  cool  judgment  and  inclined 
to  look  at  all  propositions  in  a  dispassionate  way,  he  has  made  a 
success  of  this  line  of  business,  because  he  has  avoided  everything 
that  looked  like  wild   speculation.     He  is  eminently  well  qualified 


250  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

as  chief  assessor  of  the  city,  because  of  his  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  property  and  his  thorough  knowledge  of  its  value.  In 
political  matters  he  is  an  uncompromising  republican,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  party  leaders  in  the  fifteenth  ward,  where  he 
resides.  He  was  married,  in  1883,  to  Miss  Addie  L.  Mead,  of 
Indiana,  Pa.,  and  his  wife  is  one  of  the  most  estimable  ladies  of 
Allegheny  city,  where  she  has  made  many  friends. 

WILLIAM  SHALER  ROSS,  burgess 
of  Homestead,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
city,  Pa.,  Aug.  12,  1S59.  He  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Sarah  (McGeehan)  Ross, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
grandfather.  Sample  Ross,  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  farmers  of  Fayette  county. 
His  maternal  grandfather  was  Bryce 
McGeehan,  a  native  of  Lawrence  county 
and  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  181 2.  His 
great-grandfather,  also  named  Bryce 
McGeehan,  was  one  of  the  first  mission- 
aries to  go  among  the  Indians  of  the  west. 
He  was  a  Scotch  Presbyterian.  John  Ross,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  reared  in  Fayette  county;  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
started  the  first  planing  and  saw  mill,  in  connection  with  building 
steamboats,  on  the  "Point,"  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  viz.  :  Bryce,  Sample,  John  T.,  John, 
Henry,  Walter,  William  S.,  James,  Samantha,  Jennie  and  Effie. 
Of  these  children,  William  S.,  Samantha  and  Jennie  are  the  only 
ones  now  living.  John  Ross  was  an  elder  and  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Emsworth,  where  he  died  in 
1895.  William  S.  Ross  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Allegheny 
county.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  there;  was  for 
seven  years  an  official  of  the  Dixmont  hospital  for  the  insane,  Alle- 
ghen)"  city,  and  later  was  for  two  years  an  assistant  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Ayers  in  the  management  of  the  insane  department  of  the  city 
farm.  Homestead.  In  1894  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  oil  business  at  Homestead,  and  continued  in  that  line  for 
about  three  years,  in  connection  with  the  grocery  business.  In 
1896  he  was  elected  tax  collector  of  Homestead,  and  served  two 
terms  of  three  years  each,  retiring  from  the  oflice  in  1903.  He  was 
elected  burgess  by  a  large  majority,  and  is  now  filling  that  office. 
He  was  married,  in  1885,  to  Sadie  G.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Carnes,  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  251 

Westmoreland  count}^  Pa.  They  have  six  children,  Malcolm, 
Effie  L.,  Dale,  Florence,  Kenney  and  Gertrude.  Mr.  Ross  is  a 
member  of  several  fraternal  and  benevolent  societies  and  the 
United  Presbyterian  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  solid  republican, 
and  as  a  member  of  that  party  he  was  elected  to  the  offices  he  has 
held,  though  while  in  office  he  discharged  his  duties  with  rare 
impartiality. 

JOHN  M.  DUFF,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  a  distinguished  physician  and  surgeon 
and  specialist  in  abdominal  diseases,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  Oct. 
lo,  1849,  son  of  James  H.  and  Susan  (Mil- 
ler) Duff.  His  father  was  a  physician  in 
Westmoreland  county,  died  there  in  1885, 
and  is  survived  by  his  wife,  who  now 
resides  in  Wilkinsburg  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  Dr.  Duff  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Westmoreland 
county  until  eleven  years  of  age,  then 
entered  the  Laird  institute  and  was 
graduated  from  there  in  1868.  The  next  year  was  spent  in  teach- 
ing in  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  matriculated  at  the  Western 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  graduated  from  the  classical 
course  with  the  class  of  1872,  receiving  the  bachelor  of  arts  degree. 
Three  years  later  he  received  the  master  of  arts  degree  from  that 
institution,  and,  in  1888,  the  degree  of  doctor  of  philosophy  was 
bestowed  on  him  by  his  alma  mater.  On  graduating  from  the 
university,  in  1872,  he  entered  Jefferson  medical  college,  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  graduated  from  that  noted  school  in  1874,  with 
the  doctor  of  medicine  degree.  The  same  year,  Dr.  Duff  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Westmoreland  county  and  a  short  time 
afterwards  removed  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  did  a  general  practice 
until  1896,  when  he  decided  to  confine  his  practice  to  gynecology 
and  surgery.  Dr.  Duff  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Pitts- 
burg,  and  is  closely  identified  with  many  organizations  relating  to 
his  profession,  being  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Allegheny 
county  medical  society,  ex-president  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  South  Side  medical  society,  ex-president  of  the  Pittsburg 
obstetrical  society,  member  of  the  Westmoreland  county,  the 
Pennsylvania  State  and  the  Tri-State  medical  societies,  honorary 
member   of  the  Lehigh   Valley  medical   society,   member   of    the 


252  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Ainerican  associations  of  obstetricians  and  gynecologists,  the 
American  academy  of' medicine,  president  of  the  section  of 
obstetrics  of  the  American  medical  association  and  is  professor  of 
obstetrics  and  gynecology  in  the  West  Pennsylvania  medical  hos- 
pital. Dr.  Duff  is  also  a  member  of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  West 
Pennsylvania,  Passavant,  South  Side  and  Rynaman  hospitals. 
When  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  and  ten  months  of  age,  he  entered 
the  United  States  army,  participated  in  most  of  the  great  battles 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  fights  before  Petersburg,  and  also  served  some 
time  in  prison.  He  was  married,  in  1878,  to  Jennie  E.,  daughter 
of  Rev.  James  Kirk,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  and  of  his  wife,  Abbie 
(Morrell)  Kirk,  of  Pittsburg,  and  to  them  has  been  born  five 
children.  Dr.  Duff  is  a  member  of  the  Bellefield  Presbyterian 
church.  He  served  as  a  school  director  of  Pittsburg  for  twenty- 
eight  years  and  has  made  many  political  speeches. 

THOMAS  C.  WAITE,  assessor  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  the  village 
of  Bethel,  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  in  1846.  His  mother,  Sarah 
Waite,  died  when  he  was  only  one  month 
old,  and  his  father,  William  C.  Waite, 
was  killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  in  August,  1862,  and  was  buried  in 
the  trenches  on  the  field.  After  the 
death  of  his  mother,  Mr.  Waite  removed 
to  Allegheny  city,  and  was  adopted  by 
his  aunt,  Mrs.  Thomas  Charles.  It  was 
in  the  public  school  of  the  third  ward 
that  he  received  his  first  instruction.  In  1857  another  removal  was 
made,  this  time  to  Emsworth  borough,  where  a  four-year  course 
completed  his  education.  He  then  learned  the  drug  business,  and 
was  engaged  in  that  line  for  about  twenty-five  years  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburg,  being  twelve  years  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and 
Smithfield  street.  Subsequently  he  was  nine  years  in  the  treas- 
urer's office  of  Allegheny  county,  serving  under  three  different 
treasurers — Witherow,  McCandless  and  Bell.  In  April,  1891,  he 
retired  from  the  treasurer's  oiifice,  but  was  immediately  employed 
in  the  assessor's  office  of  Allegheny  city,  and,  in  April,  1903,  he 
was  appointed  to  his  present  position  by  Mayor  Wyman  for  a  term 
of  three  years.      He  resides  in  the  eleventh  ward  of  Allegheny  city. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  253 

has  always  been  a  republican,  and  for  ten  years  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  school  directors.  In  1869  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  F.  Crawford,  of  Emsworth,  Pa.,  and  to  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  five  children,  Jennie  F.,  Sarah  E.,  Gertrude  I., 
Thomas  C,  Jr.,  and  Jessie  May.  Mr.  Waite  is  a  member  of  Alle- 
gheny lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  of  the  Central  Presby- 
terian church,  in  which  for  twelve  years  he  has  held  the  office  of 
ruling  elder. 

MILTON  BEDELL,  of  Duquesne, 
Pa.,  a  prosperous  wholesale  liquor  dealer 
and  member  of  the  council  from  the 
second  ward,  was  born  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  March  4,  1862, 
son  of  William  and  Lidia  A.  (Large) 
Bedell,  both  natives  of  Jefferson  town- 
ship. His  paternal  grandfather,  Andrew 
Bedell,  was  a  native  Pennsylvanian 
and  a  pioneer  farmer  and  distiller  of 
Jefferson  township,  where  he  married 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  Isaac  Ferree,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  that  township,  and 
a  prosperous  blacksmith  and  gunsmith  and  manufacturer  of 
powder.  Isaac  Ferree  was  a  noted  craftsman  of  his  day,  skilled  in 
the  different  branches  of  industry  that  he  essayed,  and  his  mechan- 
ical ingenuity  and  ability  have  descended  to  his  posterity  in  an 
unusual  degree,  especially  to  the  Bedell  branch  of  the  family. 
The  paternal  great-grandfather,  Joel  Ferree,  was  a  colonel  in  the 
War  of  181 2,  taking  a  regiment  from  Pittsburg  at  that  time.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  Milton  Bedell  was  Thomas  Large,  who 
spent  the  major  portion  of  his  life  in  Allegheny  county,  where  he 
was  a  successful  farmer.  Jonathan  Large,  father  of  Thomas  and 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Large  distilling  company,  at  Mount  Washington,  Pa.,  in  1796, 
which  concern  produced  the  celebrated  Large  whiskey.  This  was 
the  first  distillery  in  the  Monongahela  valley,  and  the  original  still 
was  on  exhibition  at  the  Pittsburg  exposition  in  the  early  nineties. 
William  Bedell,  father  of  Milton,  was  for  many  years  an  active 
and  progressive  farmer  of  Jefferson  township,  where  he  is  now 
quietly  living,  retired  from  the  cares  and  anxieties  of  business. 
He  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  viz. :  Andrew  (deceased), 
Isaac,  Milton,  Maggie  J.,  Mary  H.,  Sarah  E.  (deceased),  William 


254  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

S.,  Anna  R.  (deceased),  Arminda  V,,  John  H.  (deceased),  Leroy, 
Charles  H.  and  Fanny  L.  Milton  Bedell  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  completed  his  educational  training  at  the  high 
school  of  West  Elizabeth.  In  1889  he  located  at  Duquesne, 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  and  followed  that  line  with 
much  success  until  1894,  when  he  founded  his  present  prosperous 
wholesale  liquor  establishment.  Mr.  Bedell  was  married,  July  6, 
1892,  to  Margaret  C,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  M.  (Vogel) 
Werner,  of  West  Elizabeth,  and  has  one  daughter,  Annie  L.  Mr. 
Bedell  is  a  member  of  William  Youdan  lodge,  No.  647,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  leading  republican,  was  a  member 
of  the  first  council  of  the  borough  of  Duquesne,  and  has  since 
served  almost  continuously  in  that  body. 

FRANK  J.  SCHELLMAN,  alderman 
of  the  sixth  ward  of  Allegheny  city.  Pa  , 
was  born  in  1853,  and  reared  in  the  ward 
he  now  represents.  He  is  a  son  of  Frank 
M.  Schellman,  who  was  killed  some 
years  ago  by  a  runaway  team  at  Jack's 
Run  station.  Alderman  Schellman  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  sixth 
ward,  where  he  has  grown  up  with  the 
population,  and  is  one  of  the  best-known 
citizens  of  the  North  Side.  He  has 
always  been  noted  for  his  energy,  and  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  began  his 
business  career  by  starting  a  tobacco  store,  and  after  building  up 
a  good  trade,  sold  the  business  to  good  advantage.  In  1882  he 
again  embarked  in  the  tobacco  business  and  continued  in  it  until 
1891,  when  he  was  appointed  alderman  by  Governor  Pattison  to 
succeed  the  late  George  Shepherd.  Up  to  the  campaign  of  1896, 
Mr.  Schellman  had  always  been  a  democrat,  but  that  year,  like  a 
great  many  other  members  of  the  party,  when  the  national  con- 
vention declared  in  favor  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of 
silver,  he  renounced  his  allegiance  to  the  party  and  came  out 
squarely  for  McKinley.  Mr.  Schellman  is  unmarried  and  lives 
with  his  mother  on  Market  street.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle,  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics,  the  Heptasophs,  and  Pittsburg  lodge,  No.  11,  B.  P.  O. 
Elks.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  his 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  255 

church  and  lodge  relations,  as  well  as  in  the  community  where  he 
has  passed  his  life,  he  has  a  high  standing,  Mr.  Schellman  can 
well  be  called  a  self-made  man,  and  his  success  in  business  and  in 
political  channels  is  due  to  his  sterling  integrity  and  that  indomit- 
able energy  for  which  he  has  always  been  distinguished. 

C.  C.  RINEHART,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
a  distinguished  homoeopathic  physician, 
was  born  in  the  city  where  he  now  lives, 
on  Jan.  6,  1844,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
Ann  (Ing)  Rinehart.  His  father  was  a 
wholesale  tobacco  merchant  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  W.  &  D.  Rinehart,  of 
Liberty  avenue,  Pittsburg.  William 
Rinehart  was  a  son  of  David  Rinehart, 
who  was  a  native  of  Chester  county.  Pa., 
a  farmer,  and  came  to  Allegheny  county 
in  1805,  where,  three  years  later,  Dr. 
Rinehart's  father  was  born.  A  paternal 
great-uncle  served  in  the  War  of  1813.  Dr.  Rinehart  attended  the 
graded  schools  and  the  high  school  of  Pittsburg,  was  with  his 
father  in  the  tobacco  business  for  three  years  and  for  three  years 
was  a  clerk  in  the  First  National  bank  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  with 
his  father  for  eight  years,  reading  medicine  in  the  meantime  with 
Dr.  Cote,  and  later  under  Dr.  McClelland.  He  entered  the 
Hahnemann  medical  college,  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  famous  homoeopathic  school  in  1878.  The  same  year  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hazlewood,  a  part  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  there  practiced  successfully  for  fourteen  years,  when  he 
moved  to  the  East  End,  and  there  has  maintained  his  offices  since. 
He  devotes  his  time  to  general  practice,  and  now  has  offices  in  the 
Empire  building.  Dr.  Rinehart  is  among  the  leading  homoeopathic 
physicians  of  western  Pennsylvania,  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice,  and  is  closely  identified  with  a  number  of  associations 
pertaining  to  his  profession,  being  a  member  of  the  American 
institute  of  homoeopathy,  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  homoeopathic  medical  society,  member  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  homoeopathic  medical  society,  the  East  End 
homoeopathic  doctors'  club,  of  which  he  is  vice-president,  and  a 
member  of  the  staff  of  the  Homoeopathic  hospital  of  Pittsburg.  He 
was  married,  in  1870,  to  Laura  V.,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah 
(Broadhead)  Robson,   of  Pittsburg,   and  they  have    two   children: 


256  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Frank  Atwood,  in  the  insurance  business  in  Pittsburg,  and 
Laura  B.,  residing  with  her  father.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Rinehart 
was  a  native  of  New  Castle,  England,  as  was  his  wife,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  John  Robson  &  Son,  of  Pittsburg,  dealers  in 
coke  and  lime.  Dr.  Rinehart  served  two  short  terms  during  the 
Civil  war  with  the  15th  and  the  193d  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 

GUSTAVE  A.  MUELLER,  M.  D.,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa,,  a  prominent  physician 
and  specialist  on  diseases  of  the  ear,  nose 
and  throat,  was  born  in  Crestline,  Ohio, 
Nov.  10,  1863,  son  of  August  C.  E.  Muel- 
ler, a  native  of  Pomerania,  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  in  1855  and  located 
in  Ohio,  and  of  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Von 
Dorschlag)  Mueller,  also  a  native  of  the 
Fatherland.  Dr.  Mueller  attended  the 
third  ward  school  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Sharpsburg  acad- 
emy. Later  he  attended  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  then  matriculated  at  the  Hahnemann  medical  col- 
lege of  Chicago,  and  was  graduated  from  that  well-known  homoe- 
opathic institution  in  1885.  Dr.  Mueller  began  the  general  practice 
of  medicine  in  Allegheny  city  soon  after  graduating,  and  was  there 
city  physician  from  1885  to  1894.  During  the  latter  year  he  sailed 
for  Europe  to  study  the  nose,  ear  and  throat,  attended  post-gradu- 
ate courses  in  Berlin,  Heidelberg,  Munich,  Vienna,  Paris  and  Lon- 
don, and  spent  two  years  abroad  perfecting  himself  in  his  specialty. 
Since  that  time  he  has  practiced  in  Pittsburg,  confining  his  practice 
to  the  nose,  ear  and  throat,  and  for  a  time  had  offices  at  No.  400 
Penn  Ave.,  but  in  1900  removed  to  the  Empire  building,  where 
he  now  enjoys  one  of  the  best  practices  in  Pittsburg.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  staff  of  surgeons  of  the  homoeopathic  hospital,  and 
has  charge  of  the  ear,  nose  and  throat  work  in  that  institution. 
He  has  been  three  times  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  board  of 
medical  examin-ers,  is  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Pittsburg 
training  school  for  nurses,  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  homoeopathic  medical  society,  member  of  the  East 
End  doctors'  club,  the  Pennsylvania  State  homoeopathic  medical 
society,  the  American  institute  of  homoeopathy,  and  the  American 
homoeopathic,  ophthalmological,  otological  and  laryngological 
society.     Dr.  Mueller  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  257 

■  and  the  Odd  Fellows,  having  held  all  offices  in  the  local  lodge  of 
the  latter  order,  served  as  representative  to  the  grand  lodge,  and 
medical  director  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  endowment  association.  He 
was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Bank  of  secured  savings  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  is  a  member  of  the  University,  Duquesne, 
Monongahela.  Pittsburg  country.  Highland  golf  and  other  clubs; 
the  Sportsmen's  association  of  Cheat  mountain,  and  of  the  alumni 
of  Hahnemann  medical  college.  Dr.  Mueller  was  married,  in 
1891,  to  Grace  Swan,  daughter  of  Wm.  B.  and  Grace  (Swan)  Miller, 
her  mother  having  been  the  daughter  of  Robert  Swan,  one  of  the 
oldest  citizens  of  Allegheny  city,  and  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  Mueller's 
was  postmaster  of  Allegheny  city  for  several  years.  They  had  one 
child,  Robert  Swan  Mueller,  born  in  1893,  and  now  a  pupil  of  the 
public  schools  of  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Mueller  was  again  married,  in 
1900,  and  on  this  occasion  to  Nell  W.,  daughter  of  H.  C.  and  Louise 
(Worthington)  Anderson,  of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  their  wedded 
life  has  i^een  an  ideal  one. 

^^^^^^  WILLIAM     GEYER,     eleventh-ward 

^^H|MI^^^L  member   of  the  Allegheny  city  common 

J^H|  ^B^,_         council,  and  retired  capitalist,   was  born 

^^H|iP||g^|  in    Allegheny  city,   Pa.,    July    28,    1850. 

^^^^^^*^,      >  His  parents,  David  and  Salomona  Geyer, 

^^^^HpBl|t  ^^e  both  deceased.   His  father  was  a  large 

^^^Hj^^^g,-; .  garden    farmer   and   William    was   asso- 

^^^^^^^^L|^^^      ciated  with  him  in  raising  and  marketing 
^^^^Bpi^S^^Bv       the  produce  of  the  farm  until  his  thirtieth 
^^^^^^L  ^^^^V        year.     As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public 
^^^^^^^^^^r  schools     and     the    St.   John's    Lutheran 

^^^^^^^^  school,  where  he  obtained  a  good  practi- 

cal education.  In  1883  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  Frederick,  and  Frederick  Herman,  in  the 
establishment  of  a  brickyard  on  Woodlawn  avenue,  Allegheny 
city,  which  they  successfully  conducted  for  fifteen  years.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  building  and  selling,  or  renting, 
houses,  though  he  has  practically  retired  from  all  active  business. 
Mr.  Geyer  has  always  been  an  active  republican,  and  at  the  munic- 
ipal election,  in  February,  1903,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the 
eleventh  ward  in  the  common  council.  When  the  council  was 
organized,  he  was  placed  on  the  library,  water  and  survey  com- 
mittees, where  he  has  won  the  regard  of  his  constituents  by  his 
faithful  attention  to,   and  the  intelligent  discharge  of,  his  duties. 

1—17 


258  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

In  1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Falck,  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
the  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the  following  children: 
Edward,  Elmer,  now  deceased;  Stella,  William,  Ralph,  Carl  and 
Thelma.  For  years  he  has  been  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  carrying  into  his  daily  life  the  precepts  inculcated 
by  the  teachings  of  his  religion. 

DR.  OTTO  CARL  GAUB,  a  promis- 
ing young  surgeon  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg, 
is  a  native  of  the  city  where  he  is  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Katharine 
(Erbe)  Gaub,  and  was  born  on  Oct.  2, 
1873.  Both  his  parents  are  natives  of 
Germany — his  father  of  Wurtemburg, 
and  his  mother  of  Hesse.  .  His  father 
came  to  America  in  1S53,  and  was  for 
many  years  in  the  grocery  business  in 
Pittsburg,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 
Katharine  Erbe  came  to  this  country  with 
her  parents  in  1S58.  Dr.  Gaub  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pittsburg,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1891.  He  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  and  graduated  in  1894.  For  one  year  following 
his  graduation  he  was  resident  physician  in  the  Mercy  hospital  of 
Pittsburg,  after  which  he  engaged  in  general  practice  until  1900, 
when  he  spent  about  a  year  in  the  hospitals  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  and  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the  Philadelphia 
polyclinic  institute.  Later  he  went  abroad,  visiting  the  leading 
hospitals  of  Germany,  France,  Austria  and  Italy,  and  took  a  special 
course  in  the  University  of  Berne,  Switzerland.  Returning  to  this 
country,  he  became  associated  with  Dr.  R.  W.  Stewart  in  the 
practice  of  general  surgery,  with  offices  at  No.  4715  Fifth  Ave., 
where  Dr.  Gaub  also  resides.  From  1895  to  1900  Dr.  Gaub  was 
gynecologist  at  the  Pittsburg  free  dispensary,  and  from  1895  to  1901 
was  on  the  staff  of  the  Roslia  maternity  hospital  and  foundling 
asylum.  .  He  is  now  on  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Mercy  hospital, 
and  associate  to  the  chair  of  theory  and  practice  of  surgery  and 
clinical  surgery  in  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania  State  and  the 
Fort  Pitt  medical  societies;  the  American  medical  association,  and 
the   Phi   Kappa   Psi  fraternity.      He  is  also  a  member   and  past 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  259 

master  of  Crescent  lodge,  No.  576,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Pittsburg.  Dr.  Gaub  is  considered  by  the  profession  as  being  one 
of  the  foremost  of  the  younger  surgeons  of  the  city.  His  standing, 
however,  is  due  to  his  thorough  preparation,  as  well  as  to  a  natural 
talent  for  his  chosen  profession. 

DR.  WILLMER  A.  LATIMORE,  one 
of  the  popular  young  Pittsburg  physicians 
of  the  eclectic  school,  was  born  at  West 
Newton,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  5, 
1869.  His  father,  Robert  H.  Latimore, 
is  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  ca'me  to  this 
country    while    still    a    young   man    and 

>  located  in  Pittsburg,  where  for  about 
twenty  years  he  was  associated  with 
Charles  Armstrong  in  the  coal-mining 
business  in  Allegheny  county.  He  then 
went  to  Westmoreland  county  and  devel- 
oped the  Yough  Slope  mines.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Emily  Greenawalt,  and  they  are  both  now  living  in  the 
East  End,  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Latimore  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
West  Newton,  and  took  a  two-year  course  in  the  classical  depart- 
ment of  Westminster  college.  Until  1890  he  was  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  coal  business.  He  then  read  medicine  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Greenawalt  until  1S92,  when  he  entered  the  Eclectic 
medical  institute  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1896.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg and  began  general  practice  with  Dr.  Greenawalt,  with  whom 
he  is  still  connected,  though  Dr.  Greenawalt  has  almost  retired 
from  active  practice.  Dr.  Latimore  is  a  member  of  the  alumni 
association  of  the  Eclectic  medical  institute,  Alpha  chapter  of  the 
Tau  Alpha  Epsilon  fraternity,  the  Monongahela  club,  and  the 
Shady  Side  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  Masonic  circles,  being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  45 ;  Zerub- 
babel  chapter.  No.  162;  Pittsburg  commandery,  K.  T.,  No.  i; 
Pennsylvania  consistory,  No.  320,  A.  and  A.  Scottish  Rite,  and 
Syria  temple.  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  was  married,  in 
1902,  to  Miss  Nellie  T.  James,  of  Pittsburg,  and  resides  in  the 
Delaware  apartments  on  North  Highland  ^venue,  with  offices  at 
No.  517  Wylie  Ave.  Dr.  Latimore  has  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice which  is  constantly  on  the  increase,  enjoying  the  confidence  of 
his  patrons,  and  the  respect  of  his  brother  physicians. 


260  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

JAMES  HARVEY    IRWIN,   Sr.,    de- 

t  ceased,  was,  in  his  day,  one  of  the  repre- 

sentative   business    men    of    Allegheny 
^  county.      He  was  born  in  Mifflin  township 

on  Sept.  i6,  1825,  and  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
that  section  of  the  State.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Joseph  Irwin,  was  born  in 
the  southern  part  of  Ireland  in  1710.  In 
1732,  more  than  forty  years  before  the 
/'3BBB^  Declaration  of  Independence,  he  came  to 

America,  taking  up  a  tract  of  land  and 
obtaining  the  patent,  calling  it  the 
*'Wormwood  Farm,"  and  located  in  what  is  now  Mifflin  township. 
There  he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1790.  There  his  son.  James  Irwin,  grew  to  manhood; 
married  Miss  Margaret  Whittaker,  the  daughter  of  a  neighboring 
farmer,  and  one  of  the  children  born  to  this  union  was  James  H. 
Irwin,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  On  June  10,  i860,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Eliza  West,  the  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Mary  West, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  To  this  marriage 
there  were  born  three  children,  James  Kennedy,  Ettie  M.  and 
Dessie,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  R.  L  Thompson,  of  Ben  Avon. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Irwin  located  at  East  Bethlehem,  Wash- 
ington Co..  Pa.  In  1870  he  came  to  Pittsburg,  and  soon  afterwards 
began  dealing  in  real  estate  and  investing  in  various  enterprises, 
in  which,  owing  to  his  sound  business  judgment,  he  was  usually 
successful.  He  continued  in  this  business  all  his  life,  and  from  the 
very  nature  of  his  occupation  he  formed  many  acquaintances,  a 
large  majority  of  whom  became  his  steadfast  friends.  Politically, 
Mr.  Irwin  was  a  whig  in  his  earlier  years.  Upon  the  organization 
of  the  republican  party,  he  became  one  of  its  stanchest  adherents, 
and  remained  so  until  1876,  when  he  voted  for  Tilden,  and  from 
that  time  to  his  death  he  was  a  supporter  of  democratic  principles. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  died 
firm  in  that  faith  on  Feb.  9,  1901.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  is 
a  resident  of  Ben  Avon,  a  beautiful  suburb  of  Pittsburg.  The  son, 
J.  Kennedy  Irwin,  M.  D.,  who  is  well  known  in  Pittsburg  as  a 
physician  and  specialist  on  diseases  of  the  eye,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county.  Pa.,  Sept.  18,  1862,  but  shortly  afterwards  removed 
to  Allegheny  county,  and  has  since  resided  there.  Dr  Irwin 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Allegheny  county,  and  later  St. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  261 

Vincent's  college,  at  Latrobe,  Pa.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  a 
classical  course  in  1882,  receiving  the  degree  of  master  of  arts.  He 
then  entered  the  Illinois  State  pharmaceutical  college,  and  was 
graduated  in  pharmacy  in  1884.  Then  he  attended  Jefferson  medi- 
cal college  of  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1888  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  For  four  years  after  graduating  he 
practiced  in  Philadelphia  with  Prof.  L.  Webster  Fox,  a  prominent 
lecturer  on  ophthalmology.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  has  taken  an  eminent  position  among  the  lead- 
ing physicians  of  the  city.  He  resides  at  Ben  Avon,  has  offices  in  the 
Smith  building,  and  devotes  the  major  portion  of  his  time  to  dis- 
eases of  the  eye.  Dr.  Irwin  is  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
county  medical  society,  the  American  medical  association',  the 
alumni  of  JefTerson  medical  college,  is  medical  examiner  for  the 
New  York  life  insurance  company,  and  chief  medical  director  of 
the  Order  of  Unity.  He  was  married,  in  1891,  to  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Richard  M.  and  Pauline  (Miller)  Webb,  her  father 
having  been  a  prominent  leather  manufacturer  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 
They  had  two  children,  James  H.,  Jr.,  and  Richard  Webb.  Mrs. 
Irwin  died  on  July  4,  1896,  and  is  sincerely  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

DR.  GEORGE  L.  HAYS,  one  of  the 
leading  young  surgeons  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
is  of  Scotch-Irish  stock.  His  ancestors  came 
originally  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  in 
1732,  and  settled  in  the  Scotch-Irish  set- 
tlements in  Northumberland  county.  Pa. 
His  great-grandfather,  Capt.  John  Hays, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  American  army  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war,  serving  with 
distinction  at  the  battles  of  Princeton, 
Germantown,  Brandywine,  and  in  several 
other  important  engagements.  Dr.  Hays 
was  born  near  the  town  of  Kahoka,  Clark 
Co.,  Mo,  July  15,  1869,  and  is  the  son  of  Alfred  and  Elizabeth 
(Moran)  Hays.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county,  the  Bellefonte  academy,  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  and  graduated 
from  the  inedical  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
Philadelphia,  in  1895.  For  one  year  immediately  following  his 
graduation,  he  served  as  resident  physician  in  the  Mercy  hospital, 
Pittsburg,  after  which  he  began  general  practice  of  medicine  and 


262  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

surgery.  Since  1899  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  surgery,  serving  as  assistant  on  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Mercy 
hospital.  He  has  been  surgeon  to  the  14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
national  guard,  since  August,  1900;  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny 
county  medical  society,  the  Pennsylvania  State  medical  society, 
the  American  medical  association,  the  Pittsburg  academy  of  medi- 
cine, the  Fort  Pitt  medical  society,  and  is  associate  to  the  chair  of 
theory  and  practice  of  surgery  and  clinical  surgery  in  the  Western 
Pennsylvania  medical  college.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Univer- 
sity club;  Bellefonte  lodge.  No.  268,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  His  offices,  at  No.  4704  Fifth 
Ave.,  where  he  also  resides,  are  superbly  equipped  with  every 
modern  appliance  known  to  surgery,  but  above  all  mechanical 
devices  stands  the  skillful  surgeon  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Hays,  who 
has  successfully  performed  some  very  delicate  operations,  and  who 
has  a  pardonable  ambition  to  stand  at  the  head  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. 

^^^^^  DR.    NICHOLAS  ALBRECHT,  gen- 

^^^^^^^^^k  ito-urinary  specialist,  with  offices  at  No. 

^^^^^^^^J^^^         1 1 21  Carson  St.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born 

^^B|__ ^^^^^       in    the    South   Side  of  that  city,  July  27, 

^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  1S79.  His  father,  Henry  Albrecht,  was 
Bir  It^'T-iii  i^^^l  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1847;  came 
Hk     %^  ^^^H      ^°  America  in  1S73,  and  located  at  Pitts- 

^B    .JHH^'       ^^^^M      ^^^§'    where    he    has    ever    since    been 
^Hyfl^B    ^^^^^m       engaged  in  the  wholesale  cigar  and  con- 
^^^KX^^^^^^m         fectionery  business.     The  maiden    name 
^^HH^^^^^^  of  Dr.  Albrecht's  mother  was  Katharine 

^^^^^B^^^  Steiner,  of  Betch  Lorraine,  a  province  of 

Germany.  Dr.  Albrecht  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  city,  graduating  from  the  Pittsburg  high 
school  in  1896.  He  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  graduated  in  1901.  After 
receiving  his  degree  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  he  spent 
a  year  in  the  hospital  of  Johns  Hopkins  university  at  Baltimore, 
Md. ,  studying  genito-urinary  diseases  and  surgery,  and  then  began 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  specialty  in  the  South  Side,  with  his 
office  in  its  present  location.  Although  one  of  the  youngest 
specialists  in  the  city,  he  has  been  able  to  secure  a  generous  share 
of  the  business  in  his  line,  and  has  a  flattering  prospect  for  the 
future.     His  study  did  not  stop  when  he  received  his  diploma  from 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  263 

the  university,  but  he  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  progressive 
thinkers  and  writers  in  his  specialty,  realizing  that  only  by  such  a 
course  can  he  hope  to  succeed,  or  to  rise  above  the  physician  of 
mediocre  ability.  Dr.  Albrecht  comes  of  a  family  of  physicians, 
having  seventeen  cousins  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
different  parts  of  the  United  States. 

JOHN  MURRAY  MOLAMPHY,  of 
IMunhall,  Pa.,  a  prominent  and  progress- 
ive citizen  and  burgess  of  that  borough, 
was  born  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  June  i6, 
1842,  son  of  John  and  Julia  (Keougb) 
Molamphy,  natives  of  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Mor- 
gan Molamphy,  came  to  America  about 
1838,  locating  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death. 
His  wife  was  Catherine  Ryan.  Mr. 
Molamphy's  maternal  grandparents  were 
James  and  Catherine  (Cummings) 
Keough,  also  early  settlers  of  Ottawa,  Canada.  John  Molamphy, 
father  of  the  subject,  was  a  farmer  of  Canada  nearly  all  of  his  life 
and  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  survive,  viz.  : 
John  M.  ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Patrick  Sullivan;  Julia,  wife  of  James 
McKnight;  James;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Brastow.  John  M.  Molam- 
phy was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  there 
served  a  three-year  apprenticeship  as  a  general  blacksmith.  In 
the  fall  of  i860  he  came  to  the  United  States,  located  at  Cohoes, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed  in  an  axe  factory  for  eighteen 
months,  and  in  November,  1862,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
F,  4th  New  York  volunteers,  participating  in  the  fights  of  Chapin's 
farm,  Drury's  Bluff,  Petersburg  and  Fort  Fisher,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  with  the  rank  ot  sergeant  in  August,  1865.  Then  he 
located  in  Pittsburg,  entered  the  employ  of  Kloman,  Carnegie  & 
Co,  as  a  blacksmith,  and  since  that  time  has  been  with  the  Car- 
negie interests.  After  a  service  of  eight  years  at  Pittsburg,  he  was 
made  a  foreman  and  later  became  superintendent  of  the  Pittsburg 
mill.  In  1892  he  was  sent  to  Homestead  as  superintendent  of  the 
transportation  and  labor  departments  of  the  Homestead  steel  works, 
which  position  he  held  until  April,  1902,  when  he  was  retired  on 
full  pay  for  life.  During  this  period  he  held  various  other  positions 
of  importance  with  the  Carnegie  interests,  and  in  1891  was  pre- 


264  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

sented  by  the  company  with  a  fine  block  of  steel  stock  for  efficient 
services  rendered.  Mr.  Molamphy  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Alman  &  Molamphy,  furniture  and  hardware  dealers,  of  Munhall, 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Monongahela  trust  company  and  the 
Homestead  hardware  company,  both  of  Homestead,  Pa.  He  was 
married,  in  1866,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  Robinson,  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  and  they  have  five  children:  Mary,  wife  of  Red- 
mond Dougherty;  William,  John,  Julia  and  Joseph  E.  Mr.  Molam- 
phy and  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  C.  M.  B.  A.  and  the 
Elks.  He  is  a  stanch  republican  in  his  political  affiliations  and 
is  the  present  burgess  of  Munhall. 

^^^^^  ROBERT     BRIERLEY,      of     Mifflin. 

^^HP^^^^^k  township,  Allegheny  county,  a  successful 

^^K  '         ^^^^        farmer,    was   born   on    the  old    Brierley 

Jjl^^t^^     1^^^      homestead  in  Mifflin  township,   Sept.   28, 

■(■^^     '^1^^^      1840,   son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Lynch} 

■d^vJr.^^^^     Brierley.    The  Brierley  family  had  its  ini- 

^^^Hj^^y^^^l     tiation  in  America  with  the  advent  of  John 

^^^^^^^^^^^H     Brierley, a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  who- 

^^^^^^^^^^^^V     married   Ann  Jackman,    Dec.    13,    1743, 

^^^^^^^^^^^V       and  landed  in  America,   July    28, 

^^^^^^^^^^m         settling  in   Harford  county,    Md. ,   about 

^^^^^^^^r  twelve  miles  from  Bellaire,  where  as  late 

as  1885  his  stone  house  was  standing  and 

occupied.     His    descendants Jare    many    in    Maryland,    Virginia, 

Pennsylvania   and  the  western  states  and   bear  the  reputation  of 

honorable  and  upright  people.     His  children  were:  Margaret,  bora 

March    23,    1745;   Elizabeth,  born  March    12,   1747;  Robert,    borrL 

April   12,    1749;   Henry,   born  Jan.   21,   1750;  Jane,  born  May  16, 

^753;    George,    born    Feb.    22,    1755;  Isabella,  born  Dec.   2,  1759; 

John,    born    Jan.    16,    1762;    Richard,    born    April    22,   1764,     and 

Thomas,  born  April  22,  1770.     Robert  Brierley,  the  eldest  son,  was 

born   in  Ireland,   April  12,   1749,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to 

Harford   county,  Md.,  where  he  was  reared.     In  1777  he  came  to 

Allegheny   county.   Pa.,  where  he  secured  a  deed  for  a  large  tract 

of   land  in  Mifflin  township,  part  of  which  is  now  occupied  by  his 

grandson.      He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Bell,   of  Harford  county, 

Md.,    and  their  children  were:  Anne,  who  married  Isaac  Harris; 

Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Harry  Neel;  Jane,  who  married 

Archibald   Job;  Thomas,  who  espoused  Mary  Lynch;  Ellen,  who 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  265 

married  Samuel  Wilson.  Jane  Brierley,  of  the  third  generation  in 
America,  was  born  on  the  old  Brierley  homestead  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Aug.  23,  1796,  and  on  Oct.  8,  1816,  married  Archibald  Job, 
who  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  March  10,  1784.  They  left  Pitts- 
burg in  an  "ark,"  or  house  built  on  a  flatboat,  in  1820,  and 
floated  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cairo  and  from  that  point  up 
the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis,  where  they  spent  the  winter. 
The  following  spring  they  advanced  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois 
river,  proceeded  up  that  stream  to  where  Beardstown  was  later 
founded,  and  there  Mr.  Job  entered  a  large  tract  of  land  and 
became  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  that  part  of  the  country,  having, 
filled  a  number  of  county  offices  and  served  several  terms  in  the 
legislature.  Mr.  Job  reared  a  large  family,  the  sons  being  well- 
to-do  and  honorable  citizens  and  the  daughters  noted  for  their 
beauty,  intelligence  and  force  of  character.  Mrs.  Job  was  living 
at  Ashland,  111.,  as  late  as  1876,  then  being  eighty  years  of  age 
and  remembering  perfectly  the  most  minute  incidents  of  her  early 
life,  often  speaking  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  whom  she  had  boarded 
and  befriended  in  the  early  days  of  his  career.  Thomas  Brierley, 
only  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Bell)  Brierley,  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Mifflin  township,  Sept.  10,  1800,  and  there  died  on 
March  17,  1881.  He  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  old  homestead, 
following  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  and  was  an  honorable  and 
prosperous  citizen.  He  was  married  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Kirtland)  Lynch,  natives  of  Ireland,  and  reared 
a  family  of  six  children,  viz.  :  Elizabeth;  Robert;  Mary  (deceased) 
who  was  the  wife  of  John  Lyon;  Adelaide,  wife  of  William  Cox; 
Emeline  (deceased)  and  Thomas.  Robert  Brierley,  of  the  fourth 
generation  in  America  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  born 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he  now  resides 
and  is  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  on  June  5,  1884,  married  Cor- 
delia Irene,  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline  (Arner)  Fink,  of  Poland, 
Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  viz.:  Cor- 
nelius, Charles  W.,  Robert  E.,  Jesse  A.  and  Mabel  Roberta.  Mr. 
Brierley  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Mifflin  township,  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Leb- 
anon Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  large  stockholder  in  the  Home- 
stead national  bank,  of  which  he  is  vice-president,  and  his  political 
affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party.  Thomas  Lynch  Brierley, 
the  youngest  child  and  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  A.  (Lynch) 
Brierley,  was  born  on  the  Brierley  homestead,  in  Mifflin  township, 


266  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Oct.  21,  1S51,  and  on  Dec.  28,  1876,  was  married  to  Ella  S., 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (McFadden)  Rath  and  a  member 
of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Mifflin  township.  They  have  four 
living  children:  Thomas  B.,  Clara  E.,  Robert  R.  and  Ella  S.  Mr. 
Brierley  is  a  prominent  farmer  and,  in  connection  with  his  brother 
Robert,  is  now  cultivating  the  old  farm  in  Mifflin  township.  His 
religious  connections  are  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and 
in  his  political  convictions  and  affiliations  he  is  a  stanch  repub- 
lican. 

DR.  SAMUEL  HODGENS  RAL- 
STON, whose  residence  and  offices  are 
located  at  No.  402  Penn  Ave.,  Pittsburg, 
is  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  the 
city.  As  a  boy.  Dr.  Ralston  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Beaver  county  and 
the  Beaver  academy,  and,  preparatory  to 
the  study  of  medicine,  graduated  from 
the  Vermillion  institute,  of  Hayesville, 
Ohio.  Next  he  entered  the  Western 
Pennsylvania  medical  college,  and,  in 
1S96,  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  For  one  year  he  was  the  resident 
physician  at  the  Allegheny  county  poor  farm,  after  which  he  began 
the  general  practice  of  medicine  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  in  which 
he  still  continues.  Dr.  Ralston  is  a  member  of  the  alumni  associa- 
tion of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  medical  college;  a  member  of  the 
Americus  club,  a  political  organization,  and  one  of  its  principal 
officers;  and  is  the  medical  examiner  for  the  Travelers'  insurance 
company  of  Hartford,  Conn.  He  is  a  loyal  republican,  and  has 
become  prominent  in  city  politics.  In  February,  1903,  he  was 
elected  school  director  for  the  fourth  ward.  He  is  unmarried.  He 
is  a  brother  of  Dr.  B.  Stewart  Ralston,  of  Neville  street  and  Center 
avenue.  East  End,  and  of  W.  W.  Ralston,  the  real  estate  broker. 
They  belong  to  a  family  of  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
father,  W.  W.  Ralston,  was  a  distinguished  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man. He  died  in  December,  1895,  aged  sixty  years.  For  some 
time  he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Bridgewater, 
Beaver  county;  from  1868  to  1876  at  Uniontown,  Fayette  county; 
for  several  years  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was 
pastor  at  Pitcairn,  Pa.  Dr.  Ralston's  mother  was  ]\Iartha  (Hod- 
gens)    Ralston,  a   daughter  of  Thomas   Hodgens,  who,   about   the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  267 

beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  was  engaged  in  the  business 
of  calico-printing  and  tanning  morocco  leather  in  Philadelphia.  In 
1804  he  removed  to  Washington  county,  settled  at  Cannonsburg, 
and  started  the  first  tannery  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains. 
Here  Martha  Hodgens  and  W.  W.  Ralston  were  married,  and  here 
Dr.  Ralston,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born,  May  i,  1867,  on 
the  farm  where  his  maternal  grandfather  first  settled,  and  where 
his  maternal  grandmother,  Mary  (Graham)  Hodgens,  is  still  living, 
in  comparatively  good  health,  in  her  looth  year. 

CHARLES  SCHMITT,  manager  of 
the  Homestead  brewing  company,  is  one 
of  the  progressive  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  city.  He  is  the  son  of  Fred- 
erick and  Frances  Schmitt,  and  was  born 
in  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  15,  1859.  His  father  came  to  the 
United  States  about  the  year  1S50,  and 
located  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he 
followed  for  many  years  the  vocation  of  a 
coal  miner.  He  died  at  Homestead,  in 
1S89,  after  rearing  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren ;  John,  Joseph,  Charles,  Frank,  Fer- 
dinand, Peter  and  Mary,  of  whom  John,  Frank  and  Peter  are 
deceased,  the  others  still  living.  Charles  Schmitt  obtained  his 
education  mainly  in  the  common  schools  of  Mifflin  township.  After 
leaving  school,  he  worked  for  a  time  as  a  miner,  then  in  the  Home- 
stead steel  works  until  1885,  when  he  started  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, which  he  followed  for  fourteen  years.  In  1899  he  assisted  in 
organizing  the  Homestead  brewing  company,  being  one  of  it.s 
principal  proinoters,  and  has  been  the  manager  of  the  company 
ever  since  it  began  business.  On  May  17,  1888,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sophia,  daughter  of  Barney  and  Frances  (Mahler)  Schmid,  of 
Pittsburg,  and  to  them  have  been  born  six  children:  Elmer, 
Madeline,  Marie,  Paul,  Frances  and  Jerome.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schmitt  are  members  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene's  Roman  Catholic 
church  of  Homestead.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  German  Eintracht 
singing  society,  the  Knights  of  St.  George,  the  C.  M.  B.  A.,  and 
Lodge  No.  650,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  democrat. 
He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Homestead  by  President  Cleveland 
in  1885,  and  served  four  years,  receiving  three  different  commis- 
sions on   account   of   the   growth   of  the  office.     When  President 


268  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Cleveland  was  elected  a  second  time,  in  1892,  Mr.  Schmitt  was 
the  unanimous  choice  of  his  party  for  the  postmastership,  and  he 
was  accordingly  again  appointed  and  again  served  four  years. 
The  executive  ability  displayed  in  the  management  of  the  post- 
office,  he  has  brought  to  the  Homestead  brewing  company,  which 
has  placed  it  upon  a  sound  business  basis  and  the  high-road  to 
success.  The  product  of  the  Homestead  brewery  is  second  in 
quality  to  none  in  the  country,  and  its  popularity  is  largely  due 
to  the  genial  and  efficient  manager. 

f^^  DR.   BENEDICT    STEWART    RAL- 
H^^           STON,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of 
^^^       the  East  End,  Pittsburg,   Pa.,  was  born 
1^,^^^      at    Havre   de   Grace,    Harford  Co.,  Md., 
^^^     April    IS,  1866.     He  is  the  son  of  Rev. 
;^  ^^H     Walter   W.  and    Martha    (Hodgens)  Ral- 
„  ^^^H     ston.      (For  account  of  parents  and  ances- 
^B^B     tors  see  the  sketch  of  Dr.  S.  H.  Ralston.) 
.        ^W      Few  men  have  a  better  general  education 

than  Dr.  B.  S.  Ralston.  After  attending 
the  common  schools  of  Fayette  and 
Beaver  counties.  Pa.,  he  graduated  from 
the  Beaver  high  school;  attended  the 
PiersoU  academy  at  Bridgewater  for  two  years;  graduated  from 
the  Vermillion  institute,  and  from  the  Western  Pennsylvania  med- 
ical college  in  1889.  During  the  year  immediately  following  his 
graduation,  he  was  the  resident  physician  of  the  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania hospital.  In  1890  he  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine 
at  the  corner  of  Penn  avenue  and  Main  street,  Pittsburg.  Four 
years  later  he  established  a  second  office  at  the  corner  of  Neville 
street  and  Center  avenue.  He  maintained  both  these  offices  until 
1903,  when  he  disposed  of  his  Main-street  office,  and  since  then  has 
conducted  all  his  business  from  the  other  office,  where  he  is  at  pres- 
ent located.  Dr.  Ralston  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county 
and  Pennsylvania  State  medical  societies,  the  American  medical 
association,  the  Association  of  military  surgeons  of  the  United 
States,  the  Pittsburg  hunt  club,  the  Pittsburg  country  club,  the 
Duquesne  club,  the  Bellefield  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg, 
and  is  a  life  member  of  the  alumni  association  of  the  Western 
Pennsylvania  college.  From  1895  to  1896  he  was  on  the  staff  at 
the  Home  for  incurables  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  Since  1894  he 
has  been  city  physician  for  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  wards,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  269 

since  1897  he  has  been  surgeon  to  the  i8th  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
national  guard.  He  is  also  surgeon  for  the  Pittsburg  railway  com- 
pany and  the  veteran  corps  of  "Duquesne  Grays."  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1894,  to  Estelle,  the  only  daughter  of  Edward  Groetzinger, 
one  of  the  leading  carpet  merchants  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg. 

JOHN  MONTGOMERY,  a  carpenter 
of  Whitaker,  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  was  born  at  Bridgeport,  Fayette  Co., 

Pa.,  Aug.  19,  1842.      He  is  a  son  of  Hugh, 

Jk  ';  a    native    of  Columbus,   Ohio,   and  Anna 

^B^B         -^iLf  (Johnston)  Montgomery,  a  native  of  Con- 

^^H: '    ^'"''^J3  nellsville,    Pa.,    and  a  great-grandson  of 

^^Ba^^^W^^  Gen.    Richard  Montgomery,   who  fell  at 

^^^^^H^HjI^B^^       the   battle   of   Quebec    in     1775.     Hugh 
^^^^^^F^^^^^r         Montgomery   spent   most   of   his   life  in 
^^^^^^^^^W  western  Pennsylvania,  a  paper-maker  by 

^^^^^K^^r  trade,    following  that   business    when   it 

was  customary  to  finish  and  rule  writing- 
paper  by  hand.  He  died  at  Smithton,  Westmoreland  county,  Oct. 
2,  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  John  Montgomery  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  On  Sept.  24,  1862,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  F,  i8th  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  His  regi- 
ment was  in  active  service  until  July  II,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  at  Cumberland  Gap,  Md.,  under  general  orders  from  the  war 
department.  It  participated  in  a  number  of  engagements,  in 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  like  his  illustrious  ancestor,  did 
his  part.  He  was  with  the  regiment  at  the  battles  of  Hanover, 
Hunterstown  and  Gettysburg,  Pa.  ;  at  South  Mountain,  Smiths- 
burg,  Hagerstown,  Boonsboro,  Fredericktown,  Falling  Waters, 
Snicker's  Gap,  Culpeper  Court  House,  Raccoon  Ford,  Brandy 
Station,  Buckland  Mills,  Gainesville,  New  Baltimore,  Stevens- 
burg.  Gorman's  Ford,  Kilpatrick's  raid  to  Richmond,  Mine  Run, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  North  Anna  river,  Yellow  Tavern,  in 
front  of  Richmond,  Hanover  Court  House,  Ashley  Station,  Cold 
Harbor,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Weldon  railroad,  Charlestown,  Shep- 
herdstown.  Limestone  bridge,  Winchester,  Front  Royal,  Milford, 
Waynesboro,  Bridgewater,  Brock's  Gap,  Mount  Olive,  Round  Top 
Mountain,  Cedar  Creek  and  Mount  Jackson.  He  received  a  saber 
wound  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  June  30,  1863,  and  was  promoted  to  cor- 
poral for  gallant  conduct  during  the  fight.  Later  he  was 
promoted   to   the  rank   of   sergeant.     After  being  discharged,    he 


270  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

went  to  Washington  county,  Pa.,  where  he  finished  learning  the 
carpenters'  trade,  and  in  1873  he  removed  to  Allegheny  county, 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Whit- 
aker  since  1894.  He  was  married,  July  3,  1873,  to  Rosanna, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  S.  (Wilkes)  Granger,  of  Williams- 
burg, Pa.  They  have  had  seven  children:  William  James  and 
Samuel  George  (deceased) ;  Lillian,  wife  of  Arnold  V.  Smith;  Hugh 
H.,  Rosanna  (deceased),  Louisa  M.  and  Ruth  M.  Mr.  Alontgom- 
er}''  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  is  a  member  of  Griffin  post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at 
Homestead,  and  Encampment  No.  i.  Union  Veteran  legion,  of 
Pittsburg.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  takes  a  lively  interest 
in  all  questions  of  a  political  nature.  It  is  fitting  that  men  like 
Mr.  Montgomery  should  occupy  places  in  these  pages.  His  record 
as  a  soldier  in  time  of  war  should  be  preserved,  and  his  usefulness 
as  a  mechanic  in  time  of  peace  is  worthy  of  emulation  by  coming 
generations. 

GILBERT    PALEN,    the    genial    and 
gentlemanly    proprietor   of    the    hotel    at 
Brighton    road  and  Palen  way,  was  born 
^  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1862,  and  is  the  son 

"  "        <*  of  George  and  Lucy  Palen,  the  former  of 

whom  is  now  deceased.  When  Gilbert 
was  about  eight  years  old,  the  family 
removed  to  Pleasantville,  Venango  Co  , 
Pa.,  and  it  was  at  this  place  that  he 
received  his  first  education.  Two  years 
later  they  removed  to  Allegheny  city, 
settling  in  the  third  ward,  where  he 
attended  school  for  three  years,  when  his 
parents  again  changed  their  residence,  this  time  locating  in  the 
eleventh  ward.  Like  all  boys,  Gilbert  did  a  little  of  everything 
until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  Then  he  went  into  the  retail  ice 
business,  having  his  office  at  his  present  place  of  business.  He 
continued  in  this  line  until  1892,  when  he  opened  a  hotel,  in  con- 
nection with  the  vocation  of  a  liquor  dealer,  his  place  being  one  of 
the  best  on  the  Brighton  road.  In  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Laura  Anderson,  of  Perrysville,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children 
living,  Sarah  and  Bertie,  and  three  deceased,  Myrtle,  Gustavus 
and  Charlie.  In  politics,  Mr.  Palen  is  an  uncompromising  repub- 
lican.     He   was  elected   to  the   common  council  in  1897,  and  was 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  271 

twice  re-elected,  serving  three  terms  in  all.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Chubby  fishing  club,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  is  a  great  lover  of 
the  sport  for  which  the  club  was  organized. 

MILO    GIBSON    CONLIN,     of     Du- 

^^l^fc  quesne,  Pa.,  president  of  the  Home  title 

Sf^^y.  and    trust   company,    was   born    at    Coal 

K^ Bluff,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  June  8,  1857, 

mHBJL^  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Gibson)  Conlin, 

I  ^H^^  \io\.\).    natives  of  Washington  county,  Pa. 

'  IH^'  His   paternal  grandfather,   John    Conlin, 

^^^pi^^^^^^       was    a    pioneer    farmer    of    Washington 
^^^^^■WMb^^^V       county  and  both  he  and  his  wife  lived  to 
^^^H^^^^^^^        be  100  years  of  age,  there  being  but  two 
^^^ft    ^^^^  weeks'  difference  in  their  deaths,  and,  as 

^^Bi^^^^^  he  was  just  two  weeks  older  than  his  wife, 

their  lives  were  almost  exactly  of  the 
sarnie  length.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  also  a  pioneer  of 
Washington  county  and  a  well-known  citizen  of  that  section  of  the 
Keystone  State.  Joseph  Conlin,  father  of  the  subject,  was  a  pros- 
perous merchant  of  Coal  Bluff,  Washington  county,  and  of  West 
Elizabeth,  Allegheny  county,  at  which  place  he  died  on  April  14, 
1901.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  viz. :  William  (deceased) ;  Annie;  Deliah,  wife  of  William 
Campbell ;  Mary;  Milo  G. ;  Erdin,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  H.  Aber,  and  John 
(deceased).  Mr.  Conlin  was  reared  at  Coal  Bluff,  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town,  the  public  schools  of  West 
Elizabeth  and  the  ]\[cKeesport  academy.  His  first  work  was  that 
of  a  coal-weigher  at  Jones'  Station,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  and 
in  1888  he  began  general  merchandising  at  that  place.  He  con- 
tinued at  Jones'  Station  with  much  success  for  a  time,  and  then 
removed  to  Duquesne,  where  he  established  a  large  department 
store.  In  1S97  he  disposed  of  that  business  and  became  tax  col- 
lector, to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  the  previous  spring. 
Mr.  Conlin  filled  that  important  position  with  skill  and  ability  for 
three  years,  and  at  the  same  time  devoted  a  part  of  his  energies 
to  the  real  estate  business,  which  he  now  continues.  When  the 
Home  title  and  trust  company  was  chartered,  in  December,  1902, 
he  was  elected  president  of  that  corporation  and  since  has  directed 
its  affairs  in  that  official  capacity.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Duquesne  electric  light  company,  of  which  he  became 
treasurer  and  held  that  position  until  the  company  sold  out  to  the 


272  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

McKeesport  electric  light  company,  in  1897.  Mr.  Conlin  was  mar- 
ried, in  1878,  to  Jennie,  daughter  of  George  and  Rachel  (Galbraith) 
Jones,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  four  living  children,  viz  :  Joseph, 
George,  John  and  Earl.  Mr.  Conlin  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Elks  and  the  Maccabees,  and  his  political  affiliations 
are  with  the  democratic  party.  Mr.  Conlin  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  growth  and  advancement  of  Duquesne  and  is 
ever  ready  to  lend  his  might  to  any  movement  that  is  for  the  per-" 
manent  improvement  and  betterment  of  the  borough. 

WILLIAM  CHARLES  ECKBRETH, 
of  Hays  Borough,  Pa,  proprietor  of  the 
Hotel  Eckbreth,  was  born  in  Baldwin 
township,  Allegheny  county,  Nov.  5, 
1863,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Miller) 
Eckbreth,  his  father  a  native  of  the 
-^^™     Fatherland  and    his  mother    born    under 

C^^V  the  stars  and  stripes.  His  father  was  born 
^  at  Hanover,  Germany,  June  11,  1832,  son 
of  Henry  and  Mary  Eckbreth;  came  to 
America  in  1847,  located  at  McKeesport, 
and  worked  as  a  coal-miner  there  and  in 
Westmoreland  county  until  1902,  when 
he  retired  from  active  life  and  is  now  quietly  residing  at  Hays 
Borough.  The  elder  Eckbreth  was  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
viz:  Henry;  Mary  E.  P.,  wife  of  Otto  E.  Wolf;  Elizabeth  E.  C, 
wife  of  Thomas  Swaney;  Charles  W.,  J.  Theodore,  S.  Melinda, 
wife  of  George  B.  Eckman;  W.  Henrietta,  wife  of  William  H. 
Myers;  Anna  M.,  John  S.  ;  Sarah  C,  wife  of  John  Lutz;  Sulibell 
and  Walter  W.  William  C.  Eckbreth  was  reared  in  Allegheny 
county,  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  began  his  business 
career  as  a  coal-miner,  which  occupation  he  successfully  followed 
for  twenty  years.  In  November,  1902,  Mr.  Eckbreth  embarked  in 
his  present  business  of  conducting  the  hotel  which  bears  his  name, 
and  has  met  with  much  success  in  that  line  of  endeavor,  having 
the  leading  hotel  of  the  borough  and  enjoying  a  good  patronage. 
He  was  married,  in  May,  1892,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Charles 
Flidow,  of  Homestead,  and  they  have  one  living  daughter,  Sarah 
M.  Mr.  Eckbreth  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  English 
Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Eckbreth  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  is  a  republican  in  politics. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  273 

LOUIS  ROTT,  of  Homestead,  Pa.,  a 
prominent  financier  and  president  of  the 
First  National  bank,  was  born  in  the 
duchy  of  Brunswick,  near  the  Hartz 
mountains,  Germany,  Oct.  22,  1844,  son 
of  Christian  and  Louisa  (Heiseker)  Rott, 
both  natives  of  the  duchy  of  Brunswick, 
where  his  father  was  an  industrious  and 
successful  blacksmith  until  he  came  to 
America,  in  1850.  His  father  located  at 
Pittsburg  on  coming  to  the  United 
States,  and  continued  his  trade  of  black- 
smithing  until  his  death.  He  and  his 
wife  were  consistent  members  of  the  High  Street  Lutheran  church, 
and  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Frederick,  a  resi- 
dent of  Pittsburg;  C.  Z.  F.,  manager  of  a  glass  factory  at  Jean- 
nette,  Pa.,  and  Louis.  Louis  Rott  accompanied  his  parents  to 
America  when  onl}'-  six  years  of  age,  was  educated  in  the  splendid 
schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  commenced 
an  apprenticeship  in  the  retail  drug  business.  He  learned  that 
profession  in  five  years,  and  then  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his 
former  employer,  which  lasted  until  the  business  was  closed  out 
twelve  months  later.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  wholesale 
drug  firm  of  B.  L.  Fahnestock  &  Co.,  and  for  sixteen  years  served 
them  in  various  capacities.  In  1882  Mr.  Rott  embarked  in  the 
drug  business  at  Homestead,  and  conducted  the  same  with  much 
success  for  six  years.  In  1888  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
First  National  bank  of  Homestead,  was  elected  its  first  cashier, 
later  was  elected  vice-president,  and  was  recently  made  president  of 
that  splendid  institution.  Mr.  Rott  is  also  connected  with  the 
Homestead  brick  company,  the  Mifflin  land  and  improvement  com- 
pany and  the  Homestead  baking  company,  and  for  the  past  twenty 
years  has  been  secretary  of  the  Homestead  building  and  loan  asso- 
ciation, which  he  assisted  in  organizing.  Mr.  Rott  is  a  member  of 
-Lodge  No.  991,  Odd  Fellows;  Boaz  council.  Royal  Arcanum;  Amity 
conclave,  Heptasophs;  Lincoln  castle.  Knights  of  Mystic  Circle; 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Blue  lodge  and  chapter  Masons. 
Mr.  Rott  has  been  treasurer  of  the  borough  for  the  past  ten  years, 
served  on  the  school  board  for  two  years,  and  represented  his  ward 
in  the  council  for  three  years.  He  was  married,  on  July  19,  1876, 
to  Arabella  J.,  daughter  of  Robert  McCandless,  and  they  had  three 
children:  L.  Edwin,  cashier  of  the  First  Nationalbank  of  Home- 

1-18 


274  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

stead;  R.  George,  with  the  Homestead  steel  company,  and  Albert 
John,  an  invalid.  Mrs.  Rott  died  on  Nov.  29,  1889,  and,  on 
May  17,  1 89 1,  Mr.  Rott  was  married  to  Margaret  Virginia 
McCandless,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife,  and  their  wedded  life  has 
been  a  rarely  happy  one.  Mr.  Rott  is  senior  warden  of  St. 
Matthew's  Episcopal  church  of  Homestead,  and  in  his  political 
opinions  and  affiliations  is  a  stanch  republican. 

HUBERT  PAXTON  WIGGINS,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
Messenger  publishing  company,  publish- 
ers of  the  News-Messenger,  a  leading  daily 
paper,  was  born  at  Redwood  Falls,  Minn. , 
July  16,  1870,  son  of  Coulter  and  Adelaide 
M.  (Craigen)  Wiggins.  Mr.  Wiggins  is 
descended,  on  his  father's  side,  from  John 
Kinter,  and  traces  his  ancestry  as  fol- 
lows: Coulter  Wiggins,  born  in  White 
township,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  23,  1840; 
Robert  Wiggins,  born  on  Ackerson's 
farm,  White  township,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa., 
March  26,  1810,  and  died  June  25,  1890;  Eliza  Coulter,  born  in 
Indiana  county,  Pa.,  April  11,  1817,  married  Robert  Wiggins, 
Nov.  2,  1836,  and  died  June  20,  1855;  Thomas  Wiggins,  born  on 
Ackerson's  farm,  White  township,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.;  Elizabeth 
Lytle,  born  near  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  married  Thomas  Wiggins; 
Samuel  Wiggins,  native  of  Ireland,  of  Scotch  descent,  came  to  the 
United  States  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century; 
Margaret  Wiggins,  his  wife,  native  of  Ireland,  of  Scotch  descent; 
James  Coulter,  father  of  Eliza  Coulter,  born  in  Georgia,  Sept.  30, 
1791,  and  died  March  6,  1863;  Catherine  Kinter,  native  of  Indiana 
county,  Pa.,  born  on  Dec.  27,  1791,  married  James  Coulter,  and 
died  on  March  15,  1852  ;  John  Kinter,  native  of  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.,  served  three  terms  of  three  months  each  in  the  patriot  army 
during  the  American  Revolution,  and  died  in  his  eighty-second 
year;  Isabella  Findley,  native  of  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  married 
John  Kinter,  and  died  in  her  ninetieth  year;  Philip  Kinter,  emi- 
grant from  Holland;  Barbara  King,  wife  of  Philip  Kinter,  emigrant 
from  Holland.  Mr.  Wiggins  is  descended,  on  his  mother's  side, 
from  the  Craigens  of  Scotland,  one  of  whom,  Robert  Craigen, 
fought  in  the  battle  of  CuUoden,  March  16,  1746,  and  the  ancestral 
line  is  as  follows:  Adelaide  M.  Craigen,  born  in  Hampshire  county, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  275 

W.  Va. ,  Dec.  23,  1843,  married  Coulter  Wiggins,  Aug.  15,  1868; 
Jacob  1.  Craigen,  born  in  Hardy  county,  W.  Va.,  May  10,  1807, 
was  a  slave  owner  at  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war,  but  espoused 
the  federal  side,  experienced  many  thrilling  adventures,  and  now 
resides  on  the  old  farm,  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven;  Eliza  Sein 
Parsons,  born  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  181 1,  married  Jacob 
Craigen,  April  3,  1833,  and  died  Oct.  13,  1872;  John  Craigen,  born 
in  Winchester  county,  Va.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years;  Mary  Lee,  native  of  Hardy  county,  W.  Va.,  married  John 
Craigen,  and  died  in  her  eightieth  year;  Robert  Craigen,  born  in 
Scotland,  emigrated  to  Maryland,  and  finally  located  in  Winchester 
county,  Va. ;  Susanna  Perrin,  native  of  Maryland,  married  Robert 
Craigen;  George  Lee  and  Keziah  Borgart,  parents  of  Mary  Lee, 
resided  in  Hardy  county,  W.  Va. ;  Joseph  Parsons,  father  of  Eliza 
Sein  Parsons,  born  at  Rye  Beach,  Mass.,  moved  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  was  a  trader  and  merchant;  Elizabeth  Betsy  Monroe,  a 
native  of  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  the  wife  of  Joseph  Parsons. 
Coulter  Wiggins,  father  of  H.  P.  Wiggins,  removed  from  Redwood 
Falls,  Minn.,  where  he  had  gone  in  search  of  health,  to  his  former 
house  at  Indiana,  Pa.,  and,  in  1890,  located  at  Blairsville,  Pa., 
where  he  now  resides  and  practices  law  with  much  ability  and 
unusual  success,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  com- 
munity. At  Indiana  his  son  was  reared  and  educated,  being  a 
graduate  of  the  State  normal  school  at  that  place,  and  later  he 
located  in  Homestead,  Pa.,  where  he  secured  employment  as  a 
printer,  which  trade  he  had  learned  at  Indiana,  in  the  establish- 
ment of  M.  P.  &  J.  R.  Schooley,  then  the  proprietors  of  the  Home- 
stead News.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Wiggins  purchased  the  plant  of 
the  Homestead  Messenger,  a  daily  paper,  and  associated  with  him 
Miss  Sarah  Parry.  The  News  was  then  bought,  and  the  two 
papers  consolidated  as  the  News-Messenger.  Later  Miss  Parry 
disposed  of  her  interest  to  A.  D.  Slocum,  and  Messrs.  Wiggins  and 
Slocum  have  continued  the  newspaper  and  jobbing  business  under 
the  name  of  the  Messenger  publishing  company,  and  have  one  of 
the  best  equipped  plants  in  the  Monongahela  valley,  while  the 
News-Messenger  is  a  splendid  daily  paper,  which  carries  great 
weight  and  exerts  an  immense  influence  in  the  community.  The 
young  men  have  also  acquired  considerable  property  about  Home- 
stead. Mr.  Wiggins  was  married,  in  1896,  to  Miriam  E.,  daughter 
of  Thomas  L.  Parry,  a  retired  mill  roller  of  Homestead,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Hubert  Parry. 


276  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

JAMES  LAWRY,  of  West  Homestead, 
Pa.,  real  estate,  insurance  and  news 
agent,  and  collector  for  the  Farmers'  sav- 
ing fund  and  loan  association,  of  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  at  St.  Ives,  Cornwall, 
England,  March  24,  1861,  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Lory)  Lawry.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  Henry  and  Nannie 
(Martin)  Lawry  and  his  maternal  grand- 
parents were  John  and  Alice  Lory.  His 
parents  came  to  America  in  1863,  located 
in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  where  his  father  was 
employed  in  the  iron  ore  mines,  and  later 
became  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  Prior  to  coming  to  America, 
he  followed  the  tin  and  copper  mining  industry  in  England,  and 
after  the  Civil  war  in  America,  returned  to  Johnstown  and  resumed 
his  vocation  of  mining  until  the  strike  of  1873.  Then  he  went  to 
Latrobe,  Pa.,  where,  with  others,  he  opened  and  enlarged  the 
Loyalhanna  shaft,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Houtzdale,  Pa., 
where  he  resided  until  1875,  after  which  he  was  employed  in 
Bedford  county  by  the  Wigton  coal  company  until  1877,  when  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Edgar  Thompson  steel  works,  at  Brad- 
dock,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  when  he  left  that  concern  and 
went  to  England  to  inspect  some  mines.  He  was  there  killed,  in 
1881,  by  the  breaking  of  the  wire  rope  on  the  elevator  in  a  shaft, 
which  precipitated  him  and  nine  others  to  the  bottom  of  the  same, 
killing  the  entire  number.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
viz.:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  William  H.  Phoebe;  Richard,  Henry,  Wil- 
liam, John;  Hannah,  wife  of  John  Tresise;  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of 
Alexander  F.  Redpath;  Thomas;  Annie,  wife  of  Cornelius  Dickin- 
son; James;  Sarah,  wife  of  Robert  E.  Nelson,  and  Priscilla.  James 
Lawry  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  when  eight  years  of  age  began  doing  odd  jobs  about  the  coal 
mines,  where  he  was  employed  for  eight  years.  In  1877  he  located 
at  Braddock,  and  for  five  years  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Edgar 
Thompson  steel  works.  In  1882  Mr.  Lawry  went  to  Pueblo,  Col., 
and  helped  to  start  the  new  steel  works  at  that  place.  He  then 
removed  to  Homestead,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  mills  until 
the  strike  of  1892,  then  for  about  two  years  he  was  employed  by 
Mr.  Charles  Schmitt  as  clerk  and  solicitor  for  him  in  the  grocery 
business.  In  May,  1894,  Mr.  Charles  Schmitt,  having  been 
appointed  postmaster  at  Homestead,  sold  out  his  grocery  business. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  277 

Mr.  Lawry  then  embarking  in  the  same  business  for  himself,  and 
for  six  years  prospered.  Since  1901  he  has  successfully  followed 
his  present  business  of  a  real  estate,  insurance  and  newspaper 
agent,  owning  a  very  valuable  newspaper  route  in  West  Home- 
stead. He  was  married,  on  June  14,  1883,  to  Julia  A.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Thomas  W.  and  Bertha  G.  (McCabe)  Blackburn,  of  Covington, 
Ky.,  and  they  have  five  children,  viz.:  Olive  M.,  Thomas  L. , 
James  D.,  Richard  H.  and  George  C.  Mr.  Lawry  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  his  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican 
party. 

WILLIAM  BOST,  a  well-known  car- 
penter of  Whitaker,  where  he  has  lived 
since  1892,  is  of  German  parentage.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Renn) 
Bost.  His  father  came  to  America 
about  the  year  185 1  and  located  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  For  about  twenty  years  he  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  coal-miner, 
and  afterwards  lived  practically  a  retired 
life  in  the  village  of  Whitaker,  where  he 
died  in  1886  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven. 
Matthew  Renn,  his  maternal  grandfather, 
came  to  America  in  1852,  settled  in  Mifflin  township  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  there.  William  Bost  was  born  in  Mifflin 
township,  Jan.  i,  1S57.  Hejs  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children — ■ 
all  boys — viz.  :  John,  Jacob,  William,  Valentine,  Frank,  Henry  and 
Lewis.  He  received  a  common-school  education  and  began  life  as 
a  miner,  which  occupation  he  followed  for  about  ten  years,  when 
he  went  to  work  as  a  heater  in  the  Homestead  steel  works.  In 
1892  he  made  another  change  in  his  occupation  and  since  that 
time  he  has  worked  continuously  at  carpenter  work,  assisting  in 
the  erection  of  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  county.  He 
owns  his  home  at  Whitaker  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  that  thriving  village.  On  March  14.  1881,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Rushe,  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  and 
Mary  Rushe,  of  Mifflin  township.  His  wife's  parents  are  both 
natives  of  Germany,  though  of  French  extraction.  They  have 
nine  children  living:  Henry  N.,  John  G. ,  Peter  A.,  Gertrude  M. , 
William  L.,  M.  Florence,  J.  Oliver,  L.  Pearl  and  an  infant  daughter. 


278  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Roberta  M.  Mr.  Bost  and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Francis' 
Roman  Catholic  church,  of  Homestead.  He  is  a  charter  member  of 
Whitaker  tent,  No.  425,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees;  the  Carpenters' 
and  Joiners'  union,  and  the  Turnverein.  In  politics  he  is  inde- 
pendent. Believing  in  the  saying  of  the  late  President  Hayes, 
that  "He  serves  his  party  best  who  serves  his  country  best,"  he 
carefully  weighs  every  proposition  touching  the  public  weal  and 
casts  his  vote  on  the  side  which  he  conscientiously  believes  will 
secure  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number. 

CHARLES  ADOLPH  SCHULZ,  post- 
master and  merchant  at  Hays  Park,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny 
county,  Aug.  19,  1857.  His  parents,  Carl 
and  Amelia  (Sewald)  Schulz,  were 
natives  of  Germany,  born  near  Saar- 
briicken-on-the-Rhine.  His  father  came 
to  America  about  1845,  and  was  for  sev- 
eral years  employed  in  a  brewery  at  Bir- 
mingham, later  locating  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  in  the  brewery 
business.  During  the  Civil  war  he  con- 
ducted the  first  licensed  hotel  at  Brad- 
dock,  Pa.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Allegheny 
county,  and  he  died  at  Whitaker,  in  April,  1900,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  (See  sketch  of  Rudolph  Schulz  for  account  of 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Schulz.)  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Peter  Sewald,  was  born  in  Germany,  but  came  to  America  about 
1850,  settling  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he  conducted  a  flour-mill. 
It  was  there  that  Carl  Schulz  married  his  daughter,  Amelia,  and  to 
them  were  born  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living. 
They  were:  Charles  A.;  Emma;  Herman;  Wilhelmina,  married 
to  Henry  Bost,  but  now  deceased;  Amelia,  wife  of  Lawrence 
Schopp;  Frederick  (deceased) ;  William;  Catherine  M.,  wife  of  Otto 
Barthol,  and  George.  Charles  A.  Schulz,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Since  arriving  at 
manhood  he  has  been  engaged  in  various  occupations,  including 
building,  managing  a  brewery  at  Homestead,  and  operating  a  stone- 
quarry.  He  spent  seven  years  in  the  west,  principally  in  Kansas 
and  Missouri,  the  greater  part  of  which  time  he  was  engaged  in 
merchandising.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Brandsville,  Mo., 
by  President  McKinley.     Returning  to  Pennsylvania  in  1898,  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  279 

located  at  Whitaker,  where  he  has  since  operated  a  general  store, 
and  has  served  as  postmaster  of  Hays  Park  since  1902.  Mr.  Schulz 
was  married,  April  15,  1890,  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Wilhelmina  (Dasler)  Barthol,  of  Germany.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren living.  Hans  and  Amanda.  Mr.  Schulz  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  political  matters,  in  which  he  is  identified  with  the 
republican  party. 

LINDLEY  SPENCER  LAWSON,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  Lawson  manufacturing 
company,  was  born  near  Perrysville,  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  24,  1870,  son  of  James 
N.  and  Frances  (Osborn)  Lawson,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  James  Lawson,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Allegheny 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  married  to  Mary  Nixon  and 
they  had  a  family  of  three  children,  of 
whom  James  N.  was  the  eldest.  James  N.  Lawson  was  also  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  for  a  number  of  years  successfully  followed 
that  occupation,  but  in  1880  located  at  Homestead,  being  among 
the  first  settlers  of  that  borough,  and  there  engaged  in  the  plumb- 
ing business  until  1898.  He  met  with  much  success  in  that  venture, 
retired  from  business  in  1898  and  died  on  Oct.  27,  1899.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  O.  C.  Waters;  Oliver  O.,.  James  A.; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Dr.  F.  F.  Sumney ;  Oscar  P.,  Lindley  S.,  William  E. ; 
Harriet  J.,  wife  of  J.  N,  Hoflfer,  and  Howard  L.  Lindley  S. 
Lawson  was  reared  and  educated  at  Homestead,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  gas-fitting,  which  he 
followed  for  ten  years,  four  years  of  which  time  he  was  a  part- 
ner of  his  father.  In  1896  he  invented  what  is  known  as  the  Law- 
son  gas  water-heater  and  gas-burners  for  cook-stoves,  which  he 
manufactured  until  1901  on  his  own  account,  and  then  organized  the 
Lawson  manufacturing  company,  with  a  capital  of  $25,000,  with 
himself  as  president  and  general  manager.  This  business  is  in 
splendid  condition,  almost  doubling  itself  each  year  and  paying 
handsome  dividends  to  the  stockholders  under  his  splendid  man- 
agement. Mr.  Lawson  was  married,  on  June  3,  1891,  to  Harriet 
M.,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Chew)  Mailey,  of  Homestead,  Pa., 


280  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

formerly  of  California,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three  children j 
Lindley  F.  M.,  Harold  B.  and  Lynn.  Mr.  Lawson  is  financially 
interested  in  the  Enterprise  land  improvement  company  (limited) 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  progressive  citizens  of  Homestead. 

THOMAS  S.  GRANGER,  of  Whit- 
aker.  Pa.,  a  successful  grocery  merchant, 
was  born  in  Liverpool,  England,  July  4, 
1844,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Fraz- 
zackly)  Granger.  His  father  came  to 
America  in  1849,  located  on  the  South 
Side  of  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  joined  by 
his  family  in  1851,  and  engaged  in  min- 
ing until  his  death,  in  St.  Clair  township, 
in  1 87 1,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
His  family  consisted  of  five  children  that 
grew  to  maturity,  viz.  :  Thomas  S. ; 
Henry  (deceased) ;  Rosanna,  wife  of  John 
Montgomery;  Richard,  and  William  (deceased).  Thomas  S. 
Granger  was  reared  in  St.  Clair  township,  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  began  life  as  a  miner.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  62d  Pennsylvania  infantry, 
July  12,  1861,  as  a  private,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  second  Bull  Run,  Yorktown,  Hanover  Court 
House,  seven  days'  fights  in  front  of  Richmond,  Antietam,  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House,  Chancellorsville,  Mine  Run,  Cold  Harbor, 
Laurel  Hill,  and  many  lesser  engagements.  He  was  wounded  at 
Laurel  Hill  and  Cold  Harbor  and  was  honorably  discharged  on 
July  13,  1864.  On  leaving  the  army,  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  engaged  in  mining  in  Baldwin  township,  and  later 
followed  the  carpenters'  trade  with  much  success.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  Mifflin  township  since  1886,  and,  in  March,  1899, 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business  at  Whi taker,  in  which  he  has 
since  prospered.  He  has  been  twice  married — first,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Upperman,  of  Lower 
St.  Clair  township,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  viz. :  Charles  H. 
and  Alma  B.,  wife  of  Burt  Layton.  He  was  married  on  the  second 
occasion  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Margaret  Horn, 
of  Homestead,  and  they  have  two  children,  viz.  :  Christ  H.  and 
Margaret  S.  Mr.  Granger  is  a  prominent  republican  of  Miffiin 
township,  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  part  of  the  county. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  281 

-  ALEX.     HOLOZSNYAY,     of    Home- 

stead, Pa.,  pastor  of  the  St.  John's  Greek 
Catholic  church,  was  born  in  County  Ung, 
Hungary,  March  28,  1867,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  diocese  of  Munkacs,  graduat- 
ing from  the  Munkacs  university  in  1891. 
The  following  5'-ear  he  was  ordained  a 
priest  at  Repede,  and  was  pastor  of  Buko- 
vinka  church  until  1899,  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  was  assigned  to 
the  pastorship  of  St.  John's  Greek  Catholic 
church,  of  Homestead.  At  that  time  the 
church  had  a  membership  of  200  families, 
and  under  his  charge  they  have  increased  the  membership  to  300 
families  and  now  are  constantly  gaining  in  numbers.  This  parish 
was  organized  in  1895;  the  present  church  was  erected  the  same 
year,  but  owing  to  the  rapid  increase  in  the  size  of  the  congregation, 
it  has  been  necessary  to  let  a  contract  for  a  much  larger  edifice, 
which  i^  to  be  a  handsome  structure  of  brick  and  stone  with  a 
seating  capacity  of  500.  The  parochial  school,  connected  with  the 
church,  is  a  splendid  institution  and  now  has  eighty  pupils.  Father 
Holozsn5^ay  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Sojediuenia  Greek 
Catholic  society,  which  has  a  membership  of  11,000,  and  formerly 
served  as  secretary  of  that  organization. 


RUDOLPH  SCHULZ,  mine  host  of 
the  popular  Hotel  Whitaker,  atWhitaker, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Mifflin 


3  y  township,  of  the  same  county  where  he 


now  resides,  Oct.  8,  1867.  His  parents 
were  Albrecht  and  Raghena  (Reis) 
Schulz,  both    of    whom    were    born    near 


/ 


,:gp^  Saarbriicken-on-the-Rhine,     Germany, 


About  the  year  1847  his  father  came  to 
America,  and  soon  afterwards  located  in 
Mifflin    township.       He    was    a    man    of 
Z4  varied     attainments,    being     a     cabinet- 

maker by  trade,  a  violinist  of  considerable 
ability,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  and  for  twenty-one  years  operator  of 
a  stand  on  the  Pittsburg  market  for  the  sale  of  vegetables  raised 
upon  his  farm  in  Mifflin  township.  John  Schulz,  the  grandfather 
of  Rudolph,  was  a  teacher  for  several  years  in  the  German  schools. 


282  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

He  came  to  America  about  1849,  purchased  a  farm  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, upon  which  part  of  the  village  of  Whitaker  is  now  located, 
and  died  there  in  1879.  Rudolph  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Eichler;  Gustave,  Dora,  Sophia, 
Rudolph;  Catherine,  wife  of  Henry  Lawrence;  Peter;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Wm.  Rhome,  and  Caroline.  Seven  of  the  children  are  still 
living,  Dora  and  Sophia  being  deceased.  The  father  died  in  1887. 
Rudolph  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Mifflin  township. 
After  farming  for  about  eight  years,  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  produce  business,  in  which  he  continued  until  1901,  when  he 
became  the  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Whitaker.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Lydia  Wilding,  and  his  present 
wife  was  Miss  Nellie  M.  Price,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Helen 
(McKelvey)  Price,  of  Mifflin  township.  By  his  second  wife  he  has 
one  son,  Albrecht  Stewart  Schulz.  Mr.  Schulz  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics  is  an  unswerving  republican, 
often  being  called  on  to  serve  as  a  delegate  in  the  county  and 
State  conventions  of  his  party.  In  business  he  is  energetic,  the 
popularity  of  his  hotel  being  due  to  his  enterprise  and  genial  dis- 
position. 

FREDERICK  DIERSTEIN,  of  Hays 
Park,  Pa.,  a  prominent  merchant  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  born  near 
Saarbriicken,  Germany,  Nov.  30,  1864, 
son  of  Louis  and  Elizabeth  (Ries)  Dier- 
stein,  who  came  to  America  in  1881,  locat- 
ing in  Mifflin  township,  where  his  father 
was  employed  as  a  miner  for  many 
years.  His  parents  had  four  children, 
viz.  :  Sophie,  wife  of  Frank  J.  Ackerman; 
Frederick ;  Bertha,  wife  of  Jesse  Lantz, 
and  Clara,  wife  of  Fred  Gotsheck. 
Frederick  Dierstein  remained  in  Germany 
until  his  sixteenth  year,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Mifflin 
township,  where  he  received  a  common-school  education,  and  began 
life  as  a  clerk  in  the  Pittsburg  Bessemer  steel  works  in  1881.  He 
remained  in  that  position  for  five  years,  and  then  went  with  Jones 
&  Laughlin  as  assistant  shipping  clerk,  in  which  department  he 
remained  for  seven  years.  Later  he  became  shearer  and  recorder 
for  the  last-named  firm,  and  ably  filled  those  positions  for  nearly 
nine  years.     In  1901  he  located  at  Whitaker  and  began  his  present 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  283 

business.  He  was  married,  in  1888,  to  Sophia,  daughter  of 
Christian  Miller,  of  Germany,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  viz. : 
Clara  E.,  Jesse  P.,  Lillie  B.,  Elsie  K.,  Louisa  and  Ester.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  church,  the  Red  Men,  the  Ger- 
man soldiers'  association,  the  D.  O.  H.  and  the  Whitaker  fire  com- 
pany. While  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  township,  Mr.  Dierstein  held 
the  office  of  register  and  assessor  of  the  third  district  for  six  years; 
in  October,  1902,  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  of  Mifflin 
township,  and  in  the  spring  of  1903  was  elected  for  a  term  of  five 
years.  He  is  identified  with  the  republican  party  in  politics,  and 
is  an  active  worker  for  its  advancement  and  success.  In  1903  Mr. 
Dierstein  organized  the  Whitaker  volunteer  fire  company's  band, 
of  which  he  is  president  and  director. 

JOHN  LEADBEATER,  of  Munhall, 
Pa.,  a  prosperous  and  successful  carpen- 
ter, was  born  in  North  Versailles  town- 
ship, Allegheny  county.  Pa.,  Nov.  29, 
1874,  son  of  John  J.  and  Jane  (Davis) 
Leadbeater,  natives  of  England  and 
Wales,  respectively.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Leadbeater,  came  to  America 
in  1855,  locating  in  Mifflin  township, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  black- 
smithing  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  Dravosburg.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, John  Davis,  came  to  the  United 
States  about  1850,  first  located  at  Pittsburg  and  later  removed  to 
McKeesport  and  subsequently  to  Munhall,  where  he  died.  He 
was  employed  in  the  various  mines  of  the  Monongahela  valley  for 
many  years  and  was  prominent  in  the  different  communities  in 
which  he  made  his  home.  John  J.  Leadbeater,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject, was  a  successful  blacksmith  and  for  many  years  was  employed 
by  W.  H.  Brown  &  Co.  He  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years, 
and  was  the  father  of  twelve  children,  viz. :  William  (deceased) ; 
Hannah,  wife  of  William  Sellers;  Nellie;  Sarah,  wife  of  George 
Wilson;  Laura,  wife  of  James  A.  Porter;  Mary,  wife  of  William 
Drake;  Margaret,  wife  of  Wilson  Sheasley;  John,  Alice,  Thomas, 
Edwin  and  Joshua.  John  Leadbeater  was  reared  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship from  ten  years  of  age,  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
worked  with  his  father  at  blacksmithing  until  the  death  of  the 
latter.       Then  he  began  in  the  mines,   and  for  the  last  five  years 


284 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


has  devoted  his  attention  to  the  carpenters'  trade,  at  which  he  has 
been  quite  successful  and  has  accumulated  a  good  competency. 
Mr.  Leadbeater  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Carpen- 
ters' union  of  Homestead,  and  is  a  member  of  the  republican 
party,  in  which  organization  he  is  an  active  and  able  worker. 

JOHN  MARSHALL  ORRIS,  of 
Whitaker,  Pa.,  a  well-known  contractor 
and  builder,  was  born  in  Union  township, 
Allegheny  county,  March  22,  1864,  son 
of  Abraham  and  Annie  (Marshall)  Orris, 
natives  of  Allegheny  county.  Pa.,  and 
England,  respectively.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Orris,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  a  coal-miner  by  occupa- 
tion, and  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Allegheny  county,  but  in  later  life  a  resi- 
dent of  Irwin,  Pa.,  where  he  died  at  an 
advanced  age.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, John  Marshall,  a  native  of  England,  came  to  America  about 
1853,  and  located  in  Union  township,  Allegheny  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  his  trade  of  carpentering  until  his  death.  Abraham 
Orris,  father  of  the  subject,  was  reared  in  Union  township,  where 
he  still  resides  and  there  follows  his  vocation  of  mining.  He  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  viz.  :  John  M. ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  William 
Porter;  Joseph;  Ada  M.,  wife  of  John  Snyder;  George,  and  Annie, 
wife  of  John  Durst.  John  M.  Orris  was  reared  in  his  native  town- 
ship, educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  engaged  in  mining  at 
different  times  for  several  years.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Orris  had 
become  proficient  at  the  carpenters'  trade,  and  since  1887  has 
devoted  his  attention  to  that  line  of  industrial  effort.  Since  1899 
he  has  been  engaged  in  building  and  contracting  as  a  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Strang  &  Orris,  and  they  are  now  doing  an 
extensive  business,  and  stand  well  in  the  industrial  and  financial 
world.  He  was  married,  on  May  28,  1885,  to  Annie,  daughter  of 
Frank  and  Georgiana  (Johnson)  Taylor,  of  Union  township,  and 
they  have  had  seven  children  born  to  them,  viz. :  Charlotte, 
Georgiana,  Chester  W.,  Francis  A.,  Lizzie,  Anna  and  John  M.,  Jr. 
Mr.  Orris  is  a  member  of  Progressive  lodge.  No.  492,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  Whitaker  tent,  No.  425,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees, 
and  his  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  285 

WALTER  EDSON  STEFFY,  M.  D.. 
of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  a  leading  physician  and 
surgeon,  was  born  at  Rural  Valley, 
Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  29,  1870;  son  of 
Rev.  John  T,  and  Margaret  (Logan) 
Steffy,  both  natives  of  Armstrong  county 
and  of  Scotch-Irish  and  German  descent, 
respectively.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
John  T.  Steffy,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  pioneer  farmer  of  Armstrong 
county,  though  a  tanner  by  trade,  and 
later  was  employed  in  the  mills  at  Sharps- 
burg,  which  were  the  first  rolling  mills  of 
that  section.  He  was  also  engaged  in  other  occupations,  but  the 
major  portion  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  tanning  in  Armstrong 
county,  whence  he  removed  to  Duquesne  in  1890,  where  he  lived 
quietly  until  his  death  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Earhart,  and  she  was  a  woman  known  for  force 
of  character  and  many  virtues.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Steffy,  Samuel  Logan,  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  was  a 
prosperous  blacksmith  and  followed  that  line  of  industry  during 
his  entire  business  career.  Rev.  John  T.  Steffy,  father  of  the 
subject,  was  reared  in  the  Keystone  State,  educated  at  Mount 
Union  college  and  for  thirty  years  has  been  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  present  being  stationed  at  the 
Washington  church,  South  Side,  Pittsburg.  He  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  viz. :  Walter  E. ;  Vernetta,  widow  of  Enos  Register; 
Mary  B. ;  Estella,  wife  of  Frank  McGill;  Blanch,  James,  John  T. 
and  Priscilla.  Dr.  Steffy  was  reared  in  his  native  State,  educated 
in  the  normal  school  at  California  and  at  the  Western  university, 
of  Pittsburg,  and  for  two  years  attended  a  pharmaceutical  school 
at  Pittsburg,  subsequently  matriculated  at  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  university,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1894,  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  Dr. 
Steffy  initiated  his  professional  career  at  Allegheny  city,  where  he 
practiced  for  one  year,  and  in  1895  removed  to  Duquesne,  where  he 
has  since  met  with  much  success  and  ranks  high  among  the  lead- 
ing physicians  of  that  part  of  the  county.  He  was  married,  on  May 
29,  1889,  to  Anne  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  T.  and  Margaret 
(Hazlett)  Black,  of  Duquesne,  and  their  home  life  is  one  of  rare 
happiness.  Dr.  Steffy  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,   also  member  of  United  States  pension  examining  board, 


286  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  an  Elk.  Dr.  Steffy  was 
a  member  of  the  medical  staff  of  McKeesport  hospital  for  five 
years,  physician  to  the  board  of  health  for  three  years  and  in  many 
ways  prominently  identified  with  the  medical  profession.  Dr. 
Steffy  has  also  been  called  on  to  serve  the  borough  in  other 
capacities  than  professional,  and  was  a  member  of  the  council  from 
the  first  ward  for  three  years,  in  which  position  he  made  a  fine 
record.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters,  and  is  now  a  director,  of  the 
Home  title  and  trust  company  and  in  many  ways  is  one  of  the 
prominent  figures  of  that  community. 


%i'i 
# 


JAMES  BICKERTON,  the  efficient 
postmaster  of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Wheeling,  W.  Va. ,  Jan.  g,  1844,  and  is 
the  son  of  William  and  Dorothy  (Brem- 
inger)  Bickerton,  natives  of  England  and 
Petersburg,  Huntingdon  Co. ,  Pa.,  respect- 
ively, and  is  of  English  and  German 
_^^  N^^^^  ancestry.      His  father,   now  a  resident  of 

^I^^HpjM^^^^       Kansas,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  came 
^     ^^^^V        to  America  in  1831,  and  located  at  Wheel- 
^^^^        ^^^m  ing,    W.    Va. ,    where    he  operated  a  coal 

^^HL  ^^^  mine  for  about  fifteen  years  and  was  also 

married,  about  1845.  Later  he  removed 
to  Elizabeth,  Pa.,  where  he  was  superintendent  of  a  mine  for  thirty- 
five  years,  and  subsequently  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Kan- 
sas. He  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  viz. :  Eliza,  wife  of 
Robert  Cardurll;  Ann,  wife  of  George  Grant;  Clara,  wife  of  George 
Young;  Josephine,  wife  of  Patrick  Herron,  and  James.  James 
Bickerton  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county  from  one  year  of  age, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  then  was  employed  about 
the  mines  under  his  father  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a 
soldiei"  of  the  Civil  war,  serving  in  Company  D,  123d  regiment  of 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  others.  In 
August,  1863,  he  again  enlisted,  this  time  in  Company  C,  14th 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  spent  fourteen  months  doing  scouting  duty 
with  that  command  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. He  then  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  for  six 
years,  and  later  engaged  in  the  coal  business  in  Illinois  and  Ohio. 
In  1889  Mr.  Bickerton  located  at  Duquesne,  Pa.,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  until  1897,  when  he  was  appointed 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  287 

postmaster  by  President  McKinley,  re-appointed  in  1898,  and  in 
April,  1902,  was  nominated  as  his  own  successor  by  President 
Roosevelt.  He  was  married,  on  July  24,  1866,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  R.  and  Lucretia  A.  (Wilson)  Mickey,  of  West  Elizabeth, 
Pa.,  and  they  have  eight  living  children,  viz. :  Mildred  D.,  wife  of 
Albert  N  Smith;  Mattie  E.,  Charles  C. ;  Nellie,  wife  of  John  W. 
Elliott;  George  W.,  James  W.,  Wilbur  L.  and  Hazel  M.  Mr. 
Bickerton  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Samuel  Black  post,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  of  McKeesport;  West  Elizabeth  lodge,  No.  442, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  republican  party.  Mrs.  Bickerton's 
maternal  great-grandfather  Wilson,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  her  grandfather,  John,  was  a  participant  in  the 
War  of  181 2,  in  which  contest  his  wife,  Mary,  also  lent  her  aid  by 
molding  bullets  for  the  new  republic. 

JOHN  A.  FISHER,  the  leading  pho- 
tographer of  Homestead,  Pa.,  was  born 
at  Oil  City,  Pa.,  May  9,  1869.  Several 
generations  of  the  Fisher  family  have 
lived  in  Pennsylvania.  Christian  Fisher, 
the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  for  many  years  a  farmer 
of  Snyder  county.  He  came,  in  his  boy- 
hood, with  his  parents  from  Germany, 
being  among  the  early  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  settlers,  while  John  Fisher,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
181 2.  John  A.  Fisher  is  a  son  of  John  P. 
and  Eldretta  (Thompson)  Fisher,  his  mother  being  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  Her  father,  William  N.  Thompson,  came  of  Revolu- 
tionary stock.  The  parents  of  John  A.  Fisher  are  still  living  in 
Pittsburg,  where  his  father  is  engaged  in  the  photograph  business, 
though  for  many  years  he  was  an  operator  in  the  oil  fields  of 
western  Pennsylvania.  John  A.  Fisher  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Oil  City,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1885.  In 
1889  he  began  the  study  of  photography  in  Pittsburg,  and  after 
mastering  all  the  intricacies  of  the  art,  he  started  in  business  for 
himself,  locating  at  Homestead.  His  reputation  as  a  photographer 
was  soon  established,  his  work  being  excelled  by  none  in  the 
county.  On  March  27,  1901,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte, 
the    daughter  of  Edward  and  Charlotte  Ensell,   of  Pittsburg,  and 


288  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

they  have  one  little  daughter,  Margaret.  Mr.  Fisher  is  a  modest, 
unassuming  man;  one  of  the  kind  that  devotes  his  time  to  his 
business  and  his  family,  though  he  keeps  himself  informed  on 
questions  relating  to  the  general  welfare,  and  intelligently  dis- 
charges his  duties  as  a  citizen. 

JOSEPH  ALEXANDER  DOYLE, 
M.  D.,  of  Homestead,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
ph5'sician,  was  born  in  Birmingham,  now 
the  South  Side  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Oct. 
15,  1861,  son  of  Joseph  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Jones)  Doyle,  and  is  of  Irish-Hessian 
and  Welsh  descent.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Charles  Doyle,  was  a  native  of 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Street's  Run,  or  what  is  now  Hays 
Borough,  Allegheny  county,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of 
barrels  and  kegs.  He  was  also  a  millwright,  and  built  water- 
wheels,  mill  machinery,  cider  presses  and  other  articles  needed  by 
the  pioneers.  His  father,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject, 
was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
the  first  postmaster  of  Painted  Post,  N.  Y.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  Dr.  Doyle  was  John  Jones,  a  native  of  Wales,  who  settled 
in  Allegheny  county  in  1819,  making  the  journey  on  foot  from  Balti- 
more. He  was  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  one  of  the  early  contractors 
of  Pittsburg,  and  erected  the  original  stone  wall  around  Lebanon 
church  in  Mifflin  township,  which  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of 
that  vicinity.  Charles  Doyle  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  among  whom  were:  William, 
Joseph  A.,  Henry;  Sallie,  who  married  a  Mr.  Dobson;  Maria, 
who  married  Seth  Wilmont.  Joseph  A.  Doyle,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  what  is  now  Hays  Borough,  Allegheny  county,  in 
1824;  was  reared  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  glass-workers'  trade,  and  for  over  fifty  years  was  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  glass  in  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  Homestead  since  1873,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren: Mary,  wife  of  William  Stimely;  Emma,  wife  of  Charles 
Bryce;  William  H.,  Joseph  A.,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  H. 
Byrnes.  Dr.  Doyle  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county,  educated  at 
the  Thiel  college,  Greenville,  Pa.,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  289 

in  the  glass  business  at  Phillipsburg,  now  Monaca,  Pa.  He  later 
learned  the  glass-blowers'  trade  with  Bryce,  Higher  &  Co.,  which 
he  completed  in  1882,  and  followed  that  vocation  until  1889,  when 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  Bellevue  hospital  medical  col- 
lege, New  York  city,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.  Then  he 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Western  Reserve  college, 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1893,  and  at  once 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Homestead,  where  he 
has  since  met  with  much  success  in  that  vocation.  He  was  mar- 
ried, on  April  26,  1888,  to  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  H.  DeLa  and 
Elizabeth  Cossitt,  of  Greenville,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Joseph  A.  and  Sarah  E.  Dr.  Doyle  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  medical  society  and  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His 
political  associations  are  with  the  republican  party. 

JOHN     C.     KIMBERLIN,     assistant 

j«i»«N«^  water   assessor   of   Allegheny   city,    Pa., 

r  \  was  born  in  that  city  in  1859,  his  parents, 

'  ^  ^l^-^  Thomas  and  Mary  Kimberlin,  being  well- 

♦    '  JP  known    residents    of    the    second    ward, 

Jj^  ap  where  John  C.  received  his  primary  educa- 

"^^^HL  tion.     After  completing  the  course  in  the 

ijMi^H^L  public   school   of    the    second   ward,    he 

^^^■4^^^^^^       attended  for  a  time  the  Beaver  college, 

yf^B^^^^^^^m         Beaver,  Pa.,  and  then  served  an  appren- 

^^^B^^^^^^^  ticeship   at  the  plumbing   trade.     From 

^^^^^^^  1889   to   1893   he  conducted  a  plumbing 

establishment  of  his  own  on  Washington 

avenue.     In  1893  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position,  under 

Director  of  Public  Works  MacFee,  and  has  been   continued  in  it 

through  all  the  subsequent  administrations,  which  is  certainly  good 

evidence   that  he   is  both  capable  and  faithful  in  discharging  his 

duties.     In  1884  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  B.  Miller,  of  Allegheny 

city,  and  one  daughter,  Norma   B.,  has  come  to  bless  this  union. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimberlin  are  members  of  the  Episcopalian  church. 

Mr.  Kimberlin  is  a  member  of  Twin  City  council,  No.  601,  of  the 

National    Union,  and    Pride   of   the   West   lodge,   No.   37,   United 

Workmen.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  always  takes  an 

active  part  in   the  political  affairs  of  both  city  and  county.     His 

political    views,    however,    do    not    interfere    with    the    impartial 

exercise  of  his  official  powers,  all  being  treated  alike. 

1-19 


JAMES  A.  RUSSELL. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  291 

JAMES   A.    RUSSELL,    president    of    the     Braddock     First 
National  bank,  was  born  in  Scotland,  July  8,  1840,  son  of  William 
and  Helen  (Lindsay)  Russell.     William  Russell  was  a  blacksmith, 
a  son  of  Alexander  and  Jane  (Forester)  Russell.     In  1852  he  came 
to  America  with  his  family,  locating  first  in  McKeesport,  and  later 
in  Washington  county,  where  he  died.     James  A.  Russell,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  apprenticed  to  a  cabinet-maker,  and,  on 
Nov.  28,  1861,  he  opened  a  business  of  his  own  in  Elizabeth.     Four 
years  later  he  moved  to  Braddock,  and  in  April,   1866,  started  a 
cabinet  and  undertaking  establishment.     The  business  prospering, 
he  erected,   in   1884,  the  three-story  brick   building,  opposite  his 
present  stand  at  No.  836  Braddock  Ave.,  which  he  still  owns.     He 
also  owns  a  number  of  other  properties  in  Braddock,  North  Brad- 
dock, Rankin  and  Homestead,  and  has  extensive  interests  in  mines 
and   other   property  in    Colorado,  New   Mexico   and    the   State  of 
Washington.     In  1897  Mr.  Russell  erected  the  handsome  and  com- 
modious undertaking  rooms  at   No.  836   Braddock   Ave.,    and  in 
January,    1901,    turned  the    business    over    to    his    son,    Robert. 
Robert  Russell  was  born  in  1876,  attended  Washington  and  Jeffer- 
son college,  and  is  now  studying  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania.     James  A.  Russell  married 
Miss  Mary  Melissa  Wilson,  Sept.  2,  1862.     Mrs.  Russell  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Abram  and  Jane   (Kennedy)   Wilson,  both  descendants  of 
pioneer  families  of  Butler  county.     Of  the  five   children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell,  only  two  are  living.     They  are:   Robert, 
mentioned   above,   and    Helen,    a   graduate   of   the    State  normal 
school  at  Indiana,  Pa.,  who  lives  with  her  father  at  No.  310  Hol- 
land Ave.     Mr.  Russell  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  of  which  he  is  now  an  elder.     He  is  a  member  of 
Braddock   Field  lodge.  No.  510,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  several   other 
fraternal  orders.     He  has  been  prominent  in  the  municipal  life  of 
the  borough,  serving  two  terms  on  the  board  of  education,  two 
terms  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  also  as  burgess  and  auditor  of 
the  borough.     About  twelve  years  ago  he  was  elected  director  of 
the  First  National  bank,  soon  promoted  to  vice-president,  and  upon 
the  death  of  W.  H.  Watt,  Aug.  12,  1901,  was  elected  president  of 
the   bank.     The  First   National  bank  was  organized  in  1882,  has 
a  paid-up  capital  of  $100,000,  undivided  profits  of  $75,000,  and  total 
assets   amounting    to   $800,000,  and   is   recognized    as   one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  substantial  institutions  of  its  kind  in  America. 


292  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

HARRY  ERNEST  JOHNS,  the  sue 
cessful  editor  of  the  Homestead  Press, 
was  born  near  Honesdale,  Wayne  Co., 
Pa.,  June  13,  1874,  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Eliza  (Parkyn)  Johns,  natives  of  Pem- 
brokeshire, Wales,  and  Cornwall,  Eng- 
land, respectively.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Thomas  Johns,  was  a  farmer  of 
Wales,  and  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Joseph  Parkyn,  was  from  Cornwall,  Eng- 
land, and  a  prominent  farmer  of  Wayne 
county.  Pa.  The  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  review  came  to  America  in  1851, 
located  near  Honesdale,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  embarked  in 
the  lumber  business,  being  a  sawyer  by  trade,  and  in  later  life 
purchased  a  large  farm  near  Honesdale,  which  was  known  as  the 
Parkyn  homestead  and  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  viz. :  Esther,  wife  of  Edwin 
Kabelin;  Mary,  wife  of  E.  L.  Gleason;  Naomi,  wife  of  George 
Kabelin;  Orange  J.,  Warren,  Chiliom  B.,  Harry  E.  ;  Elsie,  wife  of 
Eugene  Kabelin,  and  Archer  R.  Harry  E.  Johns  was  reared  in 
Wayne  county,  Pa.,  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Honesdale 
and  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  his  native 
county.  The  next  four  years  were  devoted  to  the  insurance  busi- 
ness at  Braddock  and  Homestead,  three  years  of  which  time  Mr. 
Johns  was  superintendent  of  agencies  for  the  Prudential  insurance 
company,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  In  1897  he  became  a  reporter  on  the 
Homestead  News,  later  established  the  Homestead  Bulletin,  a 
weekly  paper  which  was  later  merged  with  the  Homestead  Press, 
when  he  became  secretary  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Home- 
stead Press  printing  company  and  was  selected  as  editor  of  the 
journal,  which  position  he  has  since  ably  filled.  He  is  also  a 
director  and  member  of  the  Kilgore  &  Atkinson  sporting  goods 
company,  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  concerns  of  that  kind 
in  western  Pennsylvania.  He  was  married,  on  Feb.  16,  1895,  to 
Ida  E,  McGuire,  of  Homestead,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Mildred.  Mr.  Johns  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  has  been  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school  at  Homestead,  for 
four  years.  He  is  a  past  commander  of  the  Knights  of  Malta  and 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  in  both  of  which  orders  he  is  an 
active  figure.  Mr.  Johns  is  a  stanch  republican  in  his  political 
faith    and  adherence  and  takes  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  politics. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  293 

believing  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all  good  citizens  to  contribute  to  the 
proper  government  of  the  community,  and  for  the  past  five  years 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  from  the  first  ward  of 
Homestead,  which  position  he  resigned  in  the  spring  of  1903  to 
take  his  seat  in  the  borough  council,  to  which  he  was  elected  for  a 
term  of  three  years. 

JAMES  K.  P.  SHOEMAKER,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  a  prominent  real  estate 
dealer  and  a  well-known  citizen,  was  born 
at  Berlin,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  4,  1845, 
son  of  Levi  and  Maria  (Fair)  Shoemaker, 
natives  of  Berlin  and  Allegheny  town- 
ships, of  Somerset  county,  respectively. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  John  Henry 
Shoemaker,  a  native  of  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  and  among  the  pioneers  of  Somerset 
county,  was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  a  son  of 
Henry  Shoemaker,  who  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  five  sons:  Anthony, 
Abraham,  John  Henry,  Frederick  and  Peter.  John  Henry  Shoe- 
maker had  two  sons,  Levi  and  Henry,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  the 
father  of  subject  and  now  resides  at  Berlin,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born 
in  1812,  and  has  lived  his  entire  life,  now  being  ninety-two  years 
of  age.  Levi  Shoemaker  was  a  tailor  in  early  life,  later  engaged 
in  farming,  but  since  1890  has  lived  quietly,  retired  from  the  cares 
of  an  active  career.  He  had  a  family  of  six  children:  Lucinda 
(deceased),  James  K.  P.,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Cyrus  Musser;  Clara 
(deceased),  Rebecca,  and  Agnes,  wife  of  John  R.  Turner.  James 
K.  P.  Shoemaker  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  village, 
and  in  1862  enlisted  in  Company  F,  142nd  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry,  as  a  private  and  saw  distinguished  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  river,  Tolopotomy  creek,  Bethesda 
church,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Weldon  railroad,  Peebles  farm, 
Chapel  house.  Hatcher's  run,  raid  to  Bellfield,  Boydton  plank 
road.  Five  Forks,  and  was  present  at  Lee's  surrender.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C,  May  29,  1865,  and  on 
his  return  home  engaged  in  farming,  later  taught  school  and  has 
also  been  identified  with  mercantile  pursuits.  He  spent  several 
years  in   West  Virginia,    where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and 


294  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Stock-raising,  and  in  April,  1888,  came  to  Homestead,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Mr.  Shoemaker  is  extensively  engaged  in  real 
estate  operations  and  has  made  an  unqualified  success  of  that  line 
of  commercial  endeavor.  He  was  married,  on  Dec.  27,  1866,  to 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jane  (Keltz)  Cams,  of  Somerset 
county.  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  viz.  :  Cora  J.,  wife  of 
H.  A.  Robson;  Daniel  W. ;  Oden  H.  and  Benjamin  L.,  twins  ;Nida 
I.,  wife  of  Andrew  W.  Soderberg;  Levi  C. ;  Darlie  O.  V.  and 
Mamie  B.  V.,  twins.  Mr.  Shoemaker  is  a  member  of  Gen.  Charles 
Grifl&n  post.  No,  207,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  of  the 
Union  Veteran  legion,  Encampment  No.  i,  of  Allegheny  county, 
Pa.     His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  democratic  party. 

©CHARLES  VON  MOSS,  alderman  of 
the  eighth  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa., 
was  born  Jan.  28,  i860,  and  educated  in 
the  ward  he  now  represents  as  alderman. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Elizabeth 
Von  Moss.  The  mother  is  still  living, 
but  the  father  died  in  1868.  When  only 
fourteen  years  of  age,  Charles  left  school 
and  went  to  work  for  the  Bindley  hard- 
ware company,  of  Pittsburg.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  employ  of  this  firm  for 
eleven  years,  leaving  it  in  1885  to  become 
one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  Star  Lake 
ice  company  of  Allegheny  city.  In  the  winter  of  that  year  he  was 
so  seriously  injured  by  an  explosion  of  natural  gas  that  he  was 
unable  to  engage  in  any  business  actively  for  four  years.  Then  he 
again  embarked  in  the  ice  business,  but  was  soon  afterwards 
appointed  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  city  treasurer  of  Allegheny  for 
two  terms.  He  was  then  appointed,  and  two  years  later  was 
elected,  constable  of  the  eighth  ward,  serving  until  1901,  when  he 
was  elected  alderman  for  the  five-year  term  expiring  in  1906.  Mr. 
Von  Moss  was  married,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Susan  Stuver,  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  and  they  have  had  eighteen  children.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican.  He  believes  in  good  government  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws,  and  in  the  exercise  of  his  official  powers  has 
always  tried  to  carry  that  idea  into  practice.  As  a  result,  he  is  a 
popular  official,  and  retains  the  confidence  and  support  of  his 
constituents. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  295 

WILLIAM  JAMES  DORSEY,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  proprietor  of  the  Hotel 
Dorsey,  was  born  at  Newport,  County 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  Sept.  14,  1843,  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Carmoody)  Dorsey, 
who  came  to  America  about  1850,  locat- 
ing in  Cambria  county,  Pa.,  where  for  a 
number  of  years  his  father  was  employed 
by  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  The  elder 
Dorsey  died  at  Bennington  station,  and 
was  the  father  of  the  following  children : 
Mary  (deceased),  wife  of  John  Larkin; 
Annie  (deceased);  William  J,,  John, 
(deceased);  Minnie  (deceased);  Michael  (deceased),  and  Nicholas 
(deceased).  William  J.  Dorsey  was  reared  in  Cambria  county  from 
his  seventh  year,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  St. 
Francis  college,  Loretto.  In  1857  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a  bakery  up  to  the  Civil  war.  On  Jan.  7,  1862, 
Mr.  Dorsey  enlisted  in  Company  E,  91st  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  infantry,  and  remained  with  that  command  until  mustered 
out  at  City  Point,  Va.,  Jan.  7,  1865.  This  regiment  was  organized 
at  Philadelphia  from  Sept.  9  to  Dec.  4,  1861,  with  Edgar  M. 
Gregory  as  colonel;  Edward  E.  Wallace,  lieutenant-colonel; 
George  W.  Todd,  major,  and  was  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
in  the  district  of  Washington,  from  January,  1862;  ist  brigade, 
3d  division,  5th  army  corps.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  Sept.  3, 
1862;  3d  brigade,  2d  division,  5th  army  corps.  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  from  May,  1863;  2d  brigade,  2d  division,  5th  army  corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  January,  1864;  1st  brigade,  ist  division, 
5th  army  corps.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  April,  1864; 
ist  brigade,  2d  division,  5th  army  corps,  from  June  6,  1864; 
2d  brigade,  ist  division,  5th  army  corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
from  June  14,  1864;  3d  brigade,  ist  division,  5th  army  corps,  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  up  to  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Dorsey  partici- 
pated in  the  many  battles  and  engagements  in  which  his  regiment 
took  part,  to  give  an  account  of  which  would  be  necessary  to  write 
the  history  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  during  his  entire  mil- 
itary career  bore  himself  well.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  Pittsburg,  where  he  clerked  in  a  store  for  two  years,  and  then 
for  the  next  two  years  was  engaged  in  the  liquor  business  at  Shaner 
station.  In  1869  he  located  in  Mifflin  township  and  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Coal  Valley  until  1873",  when  he  began  general 


296  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

merchandising  at  Rock  Run  and  prospered  at  that  venture  until 
1884.  Then  he  again  went  in  the  hotel  business  at  Coal  Valley, 
and  there  remained  until  1889,  when  he  removed  to  Duquesne, 
there  engaged  in  various  businesses  until  1898,  when  he  began  his 
present  hotel  business  in  that  city.  He  was  first  married,  on 
March  3,  1870,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  James  and  Rosanna 
(Fowler)  Hamilton,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  three  living  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  John  H.,  Rosanna  and  Lizzie.  Mrs.  Dorsey  died  in 
1884,  and  he  was  again  married,  in  1891,  to  Julia  Brossman,  of 
Pittsburg,  by  whom  he  has  had  five  children,  viz.  :  Annie,  Minnie, 
Charlie,  Julia  and  Essie.  Mr.  Dorsey  is  a  prominent  member  of 
Samuel  Black  post,  No.  59,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  is  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  is  independent  in  his  political 
affiliations. 

©ELIJAH  PENELTON  FAIDLEY,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  a  prominent  real  estate 
dealer  and  insurance  agent,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pa.,  Aug.  i,  1841,  son 
of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Meyers)  Faidley, 
both  natives  of  Somerset  county.  Pa. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Faidley, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812,  married  Barbara 
Kriter,  and  was  a  solid  and  upright  citi- 
zen. His  maternal  grandfather,  John 
Meyers,  a  native  of  Germany  and  a 
weaver  by  trade,  spent  the  last  thirty 
years  of  his  life  in  Somerset  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  when  about 
sixty-nine  years  of  age.  Peter  Faidley,  father  of  the  subject,  was 
born  in  1812,  and  was  by  occupation  a  contractor  and  builder.  He 
died  in  1873,  was  married  three  times,  and  the  father  of  twenty- 
four  children,  seventeen  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Elijah  P. 
Faidley  was  reared  near  Meyersdale,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.;  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and,  on  April  18,  1861,  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  Company  A,  loth  reserve  volunteer  corps,  for  duty  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  served  three  years  and  three  months  in  that  sanguinary 
conflict,  being  wounded  on  three  different  occasions  and  taking 
part  in  many  of  the  noted  battles  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Pittsburg,  June  11,  1864,  and  for  the  next  twenty-two  years 
was  employed  in  the  mills  of  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  In  1893  Mr. 
Faidley  embarked  in   the  real  estate  business  at  Duquesne,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  297 

has  since  met  with  much  success  in  that  vocation,  now  being  the 
leader  in  that  line  of  business  in  the  borough  and  enjoying  a 
splendid  clientage.  He  was  happily  married,  in  1865,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Waring)  Mercer,  of  Loudoun 
county,  Va.,  and  they  have  two  living  children:  John  W.  and 
Gertrude,  wife  of  William  L.  Granger,  Mrs.  Faidley  died  in  1891, 
and  he  was  again  married,  in  1893,  this  time  to  Mrs.  Grace 
(Forsyth)  Ferguson,  daughter  of  Adam  Forsyth,  of  McKeesport, 
Pa.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edna  May.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
the  republican  party,  and  has  served  on  the  school  board  and  in 
the  council  of  Duquesne. 

HARRY  PRUNO  HUGO  QUECK,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  the  popular  proprietor 
of  the  Hotel  Queck,  on  Eighth  avenue, 
was  born  in  Zwickau,  Saxony,  Germany, 
Sept.  26,  1863,  son  of  Anton  Ludwig  and 
Caroline  (Kahlart)  Queck,  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  Austria,  respectively.  His 
parents  came  to  America  in  1865,  located 
at  Saltsburg,  Allegheny  county,  where 
his  father  worked  as  a  pit  carpenter  for 
two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Penny's, 
on  the  Youghiogheny  river,  where  he 
was  employed  in  the  mines  of  that  vicin- 
ity until  the  early  seventies.  Then  he  went  to  Turtle  Creek  and 
there  followed  mining  until  1881,  when  he  removed  to  Homestead 
and  embarked  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business.  In  1881  he  com- 
menced the  hotel  business  at  Homestead  and  continued  in  that  line 
with  much  success  until  his  death  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  He  had  four  children  that  grew  to  maturity,  viz. : 
Harry  P.  H.  ;  Anna  M.,  widow  of  Paul  Barthol;  Albert  H.,  and 
Oscar  A.  Harry  P.  H.  Queck  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  Duff's  business  college,  Pitts- 
burg, and  since  1881  has  been  a  resident  of  Homestead,  where  he 
was  employed  in  the  steel  mills  until  1892,  when  he  entered  the 
hotel  business  under  his  father.  On  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1895, 
Mr.  Queck  succeeded  to  the  business,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted with  much  success.  In  1902  he  erected  his  present  fine 
hotel,  which  is  a  splendid  brick  structure  of  three  stories  and 
equipped    with    all    modern   improvements.     He  was   married,  on 


298  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Aug.  25,  1889,  to  Emma  Amelia,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sophie 
(Ackerman)  Meyer,  of  Mount  Washington,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
but  formerly  of  Germany,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  viz. : 
Edna  C,  Myrtle  E.,  Florence  M.  and  Hazel  P.  Mr.  Queck  and 
wife  are  members  of  St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Protestant  church, 
and  he  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Ger- 
man Turner  Singverein  and  the  D.  O.  H. 

GEORGE  HENRY  METCALFE, 
whose  business  is  that  of  sanitary  plumber 
and  gas-fitter,  is  one  of  the  promising 
young  business  men  of  Homestead,  Pa. 
He  is  a  son  of  Matthew  S.  and  Catherine 
E.  (Siemon)  Metcalfe,  the  father  having 
been  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  the 
mother  near  Berlin,  Germany.  John 
Metcalfe,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
George,  came  to  this  country  in  1841, 
locating  in  the  anthracite  coal  regions, 
where  for  several  years  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  coal-miner.  He  then 
came  to  Pittsburg  and  settled  in  the  little  village  of  Minersville, 
which  is  now  a  part  of  the  city,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  His  wife  was  a  Margaret  Schlender.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Henry  Siemon,  came  to  America  in  1848  and  located 
in  Pittsburg,  where  for  many  years  he  followed  his  trade  of  black- 
smith. Matthew  S.  Metcalfe,  George's  father,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Pittsburg  ever  since  1853.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  began 
work  in  the  coal  mines  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a  miner  until 
1881.  At  that  time  he  formed  a  partnership  with  two  others, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Berry,  Metcalfe  &  Watson,  as  coal  opera- 
tors. The  firm  did  a  successful  business  for  several  years,  when 
Mr.  Metcalfe  withdrew  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  merchan- 
dising. He  is  now  retired.  George  H.  Metcalfe  is  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  his  brothers  and  sisters  being  Ida  M.  and  Matthew 
(deceased);  Anna,  now  wife  of  Thomas  Pritchard;  Eva  and  Henri- 
etta. He  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Sept.  16,  1876,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city.  He  began  life  as  a  book- 
keeper for  the  firm  of  F.  C.  Kohne  &  Co.,  in  1892,  and  continued 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  bookkeeper  and  estimator  for  that  firm 
until  1899.  That  year  he  went  to  Neu  &  Harmeier  as  book- 
keeper and  superintendent     At  the  expiration  of  eighteen  months, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  299 

he  purchased  Mr.  Harmeier's  interest  and  the  business  was  con- 
tinued as  E.  W.  Neu  &  Co.  to  March,  1903,  when  Mr.  Metcalfe 
sold  out  and  embarked  in  business  for  himself.  On  Aug.  21.  1900, 
he  was  married  to  Fannie  E..  daughter  of  Robert  Painter,  of 
Elizabeth,  Pa.  Mr.  Metcalfe  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  Order  of  Americus  societies  and  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Politically,  he  is  a  republican,  and  although  interested  in  public 
questions,  he  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  his  business, 
in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful. 

WILLIAM  GEORGE  FORRESTER, 
of  Whitaker,  Pa.,  a  prosperous  mill 
worker  in  the  employ  of  the  Homestead 
steel  works,  was  born  in  West  Elizabeth, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan,  19,  1873,  son  of 
James  and  Mary  E.  (Penn)  Forrester, 
natives  of  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania, 
respectively.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
Lemuel  Penn,  resided  in  Allegheny 
county  for  many  years,  was  a  coal-miner 
by  occupation,  served  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  died  at  West  Elizabeth  in  1896,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five  years.  James  For- 
rester, father  of  the  subject,  has  been  a  resident  of  West  Elizabeth 
for  upwards  of  thirty  years,  and  for  the  past  seventeen  years  has 
been  an  employe  of  John  A.  Snee,  a  prominent  gas  and  oil  operator. 
James  Forrester  is  the  father  of  the  following  children  that  grew  to 
maturity,  viz.  :  James  L. ;  Hettie  J.  (deceased),  wife  of  Charles  C. 
Dunlap;  William  G. ;  Jeannette,  wife  of  Henry  Wilson ;  Gilberta, 
wife  of  Hengist  Briggs;  Margaret,  wife  of  William  Spence;  Alice  J., 
wife  of  Harry  Longdusky ;  Mary,  and  Robert.  William  G.  Forrester 
was  reared  in  West  Elizabeth,  and  there  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  began  his  business  career  as  a  coal-miner,  following 
that  occupation  at  different  times  in  the  vicinity  of  West  Elizabeth 
until  1898;  resided  at  Homestead  until  1901,  then  removed  to  his 
present  home  at  Whitaker,  where  he  has  erected  a  comfortable 
dwelling.  He  was  married,  on  Aug.  10,  1892,  to  Lucy,  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  (Gration)  Wilson,  of  Mifflin  township,  and  they 
have  three  living  children,  viz. :  Mary  Jennie,  Iva  B.  and  James  E. 
Mr.  Forrester  is  a  member  of  Gray  Eagle  tribe  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men,  and  in  his  political  associations  and  convictions 
is  a  republican. 


LOUIS  F.  HOLTZMAN. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  301 

LOUIS  F.  HOLTZMAN,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive business  men  of  Braddock,  was  born  in  that  borough, 
Oct.  4,  1856.  His  parents  were  Louis  and  Teresa  Holtzman, 
natives  of  Alsace,  who  came  to  America  in  the  early  fifties.  Mr. 
Holtzman  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  worked 
seven  years  as  a  coal-miner,  and  three  years  in  the  rail  department 
of  the  Edgar  Thompson  mill.  In  March,  1886,  Gov.  Robert  E. 
Pattison  appointed  him  justice  of  the  peace,  and  since  then  Mr. 
Holtzman  has  been  four  times  elected  for  five-year  terms  in  this 
office,  the  last  time  without  opposition,  although  he  belongs  to  the 
minority  party  in  Braddock.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Braddock  council,  and  has  been  for 
several  years  past,  president  of  that  body.  During  this  time  he  has 
upheld  many  measures  for  municipal  improvements,  and  has  been 
the  recognized  champion  of  good  government.  Mr.  Holtzman  has 
held  many  positions  of  trust,  the  most  important  of  which  is  that 
of  personal  representative  of  Mr.  Charles  M.  Schwab  in  the  erection 
of  the  new  St.  Thomas'  Roman  Catholic  church,  which  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Schwab  have  given  the  city.  He  is  trustee  of  the  $100,000 
fund  which  has  been  donated  for  that  purpose,  and  has  exclusive 
authority  to  select  the  architect,  decide  upon  the  plans,  and  let  the 
contracts.  Mr.  Holtzman  owns,  at  No.  918  Braddock  Ave.,  one  of 
the  best-appointed  fire  insurance  offices  in  Braddock,  controlling 
the  agency  for  ten  strong  companies,  and  is  doing  a  thriving  real 
estate  business,  which  requires  the  services  of  several  assistants. 
On  Aug  26,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Rose  (McKeown)  McMonigle,  early  settlers  of  Port  Perry.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holtzman  are:  Alice  and  Rose,  who  are 
students  at  the  Seton  Hall  academy,  of  Greensburg,  and  Robert, 
who  is  attending  the  Braddock  public  schools.  Mr.  Holtzman  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

DAVID  SHANAHAN,  of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  pastor  of  the  Holy 
Name  Catholic  church,  was  born  in  County  Waterford,  Ireland, 
Sept.  15,  1866,  son  of  David  and  Margaret  (Phelan)  Shanahan,  both 
natives  of  Ireland.  Father  Shanahan  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
his  native  country,  educated  at  St.  John's  college,  of  Waterford, 
and  at  St.  Patrick's  college.  County  Carlow,  where  he  was  ordained 
to  the  priesthood  in  1891.  The  same  year  he  came  to  America, 
was  appointed  assistant  priest  to  St.  Peter's  church,  of  Allegheny 
city,  and  eighteen  months  later  was  transferred  to  St.  John's 
church,  at  Altoona,   as  assistant  pastor,    and  there  remained  for 


302  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

two  years.  Then  he  was  assigned  to  St.  John's  church,  at  Coyles- 
ville,  Pa.,  as  pastor,  and  for  two  years  and  nine  months  was  in 
charge  of  that  pastorate,  where  he  was  largely  instrumental  in 
remodeling  the  church  building  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1897,  Father  Shanahan  was  sent  to  Duquesne  as  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Name,  which  at  that  time  was  quite  small,  with 
a  membership  of  only  about  120  families  and  an  inadequate  church 
building.  Father  Shanahan  has  caused  to  be  erected,  at  the  cost 
of  $60,000,  a  handsome  structure  of  buff  vitrified  brick,  richly 
trimmed  with  Cleveland  sandstone,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  900, 
and  in  every  way  adapted  for  the  sacred  purposes  for  which  it  is 
used.  The  church,  which  is  of  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  is  135 
feet  long,  and  56  feet  wide  (66  at  the  transepts),  and  has  two  towers, 
one  165  feet  and  the  other  92  feet  high.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
church  was  laid  July  30,  1899,  by  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop 
Phelan,  and  the  church  dedicated  by  that  dignitary  in  1901. 
Father  Shanahan  also  had  a  fine  brick  dwelling-house  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $8,000,  which  was  begun  at  the  same  time  as  the  church 
edifice,  but  completed  in  1899,  He  is  an  able  and  earnest  worker 
in  the  field  of  religious  endeavor,  and  under  his  charge  the  church 
has  had  a  splendid  growth,  now  having  a  membership  of  more  than 
200  families,  and  is  in  every  way  blessed  with  success  and 
prosperity. 

FRANK  J.  McPARTLAND,  proprie- 
tor of  the  Junction  hotel,  on  the  River 
road,  near  Braddock  bridge,  was  born  in 
Connellsville,  Pa.,  July  23,  1874.  He  is 
a  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Collins) 
McPartland,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of 
Ireland,  but  came  to  this  country  in  1867. 
They  settled  at  Connellsville,  where  the 
father  worked  in  the  mines  until  1893, 
when  he  retired  and  removed  to  Mifflin 
township,  where  he  still  resides.  They 
had  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  as  follows:  Anna,  wife  of 
"William  Collins;  Margaret,  wife  of  James  H.  White;  Mary,  wife  of 
J.  G.  Guffey;  Frank  J.;  John,  who  died  in  the  Philippine  islands 
while  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  Thomas  and  Charles.  Frank  J.  McPartland  was 
reared  in  Connellsville,  where  he  attended  the  parochial  schools, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  303 

securing  a  good,  practical  education.  He  began  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count as  a  miner,  but  worked  at  that  occupation  only  a  short  time, 
changing  it  for  the  more  congenial  one  of  bookkeeper  in  a  grocery- 
store  at  Homestead,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years.  In  1901  he 
entered  into  his  present  business,  which  he  has  ever  since  success- 
fully conducted,  his  hotel  being  one  of  the  most  popular  places  of 
entertainment  in  Allegheny  county.  Mr.  McPartland  is  a  member 
of  St.  Mary  Magdalene's  Catholic  church,  of  Homestead.  He  takes 
a  great  interest  and  an  active  part  in  political  matters,  being  one 
of  the  most  energetic  republicans  in  Mifflin  township.  He  is 
frequently  called  upon  to  serve  as  judge  of  the  election,  is  now  a 
member  of  the  county  central  committee,  and  has  repeatedly  repre- 
sented his  district  in  political  conventions. 

JESSE  S.  LANTZ,  who  for  nearly 
twenty  years  has  been  a  steel  melter  in 
the  Homestead  steel  works,  was  born  in 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  Aug.  29,  1865,  and  is 
the  son  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Heppert) 
Lantz.  When  he  was  about  one  year  old, 
his  parents  came  to  Allegheny  county. 
Pa.,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  Up 
to  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  attended 
the  common  schools, and  then  went  to 
work  in  the  coal  mines,  following  this 
occupation  for  about  five  years,  when  he 
entered  the  Homestead  steel  works  and 
learned  the  trade  at  which  he  is  now  employed.  On  Sept.  29, 
1885,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha,  the  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Elizabeth  (Ries)  Dierstein,  of  Mifflin  township,  and  they  have  four 
children  living:  Bertha,  Elmer,  Earl  and  Mabel.  In  1889  Mr. 
Lantz  became  a  resident  of  Whitaker,  where  he  has  ever  since 
resided  and  where  he  owns  valuable  property  which  he  has  accu- 
mulated by  his  industry  and  frugal  habits.  He  is  a  member  of 
Whitaker  tent,  No.  425,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  in  politics 
is  independent.  Young  men  can  learn  a  useful  lesson  from  the 
life  of  Jesse  S.  Lantz.  Born  of  humble  parentage  and  forced  by 
circumstances  to  begin  life  for  himself  at  an  early  age,  he  has  over- 
come all  obstacles,  until  now,  while  still  less  than  forty  years  of 
age,  he  is  in  a  measure  independent.  While  others  have  com- 
plained of  ill  luck  or  hard  times,  he  has  boldly  faced  the  situation 
and   successfully   solved  the  problem  of  human  life.     Among  his 


304  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

neighbors,  he  is  honored  and  respected,  because  he  has  demon- 
strated by  his  example  the  value  of  industry  and  self-reliance.  By 
a  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties,  he  has  won  the  regard  of  his 
employers,  as  is  shown  by  his  long  service  in  the  employ  of  one  of 
the  greatest  concerns  of  its  kind  in  the  country. 

CHARLES      FREDERICK      GOLD- 
..'^     ^  STROHM,  of    Duquesne,   Pa.,  a   promi- 

^  '"'  nent  and  progressive   citizen,   was  born 

%   4Mt^    mm.  within    what   is    now    the   limits  of  that 

borough,  Nov.  14,  1854,  son  of  Konrad 
and  Rosina  (Pfaflf)  Goldstrohm,  natives 
of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  who  came 
to  America  in  1849,  married  in  New 
York  city,  and  settled  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1852. 
There  the  elder  Goldstrohm  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  for  three  years, 
and  then  embarked  in  the  butchers'  busi- 
ness at  Deutschtown,  where  he  continued  with  much  success  until 
1891,  when  he  retired  from  business  and  removed  to  a  farm,  where 
he  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  a  son  of 
Youst  and  Barbara  Goldstrohm,  the  latter  dying  in  1859,  and  one 
year  later  the  former  came  to  America,  located  at  Elizabeth,  Pa., 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  John  Pfaff, 
who  came  to  America  in  1872,  and  died  in  New  York  city  three 
months  after  his  arrival.  Konrad  Goldstrohm  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children,  viz.  :  August,  Charles  F.,  Konrad,  Frederick;  Louisa, 
wife  of  William  McKelravey ;  Heinrich,  William  S.  ;  Rosina,  wife 
of  Washington  Daff ;  Emma  and  Katherina,  deceased.  Charles  F. 
Goldstrohm  was  reared  in  Miflflin  township,  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  began  his  business  career  as  a  farmer,  driving  a 
milk  wagon  and  later  driving  a  meat  wagon  for  his  father.  In 
1874  he  embarked  in  the  meat  business  on  his  own  account,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1892;  then  for  four  years  was  in  the  real 
estate  and  loan  business;  from  1896  to  1898  operated  a  coal  works 
in  Jefferson  township,  formerly  owned  by  Thomas  Foster,  his 
father-in-law,  and  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  the  real  estate 
and  loan  business  at  Duquesne,  in  which  he  has  met  with  unusual 
success.  He  was  happily  married,  on  Aug.  31,  1877,  to 
Christiana  B.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ellen  (Bayne)  Foster,  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  305 

Coal  Valley,  and  they  have  nine  living  children,  viz. :  Pressley  R., 
Thomas  F.,  Nellie,  Charles  F.,  Jr.,  Grover  C,  Vila  G.,  Zila  G., 
Christiana  B.  and  Karl  J.  A.  Mr.  Goldstrohm  was  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  church,  but  his  family  are  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church.  Mr.  Goldstrohm  is  a  prominent  democrat,  served 
as  postmaster  of  Dravosburg  under  Cleveland's  first  administration, 
had  the  Duquesne  postoffice  established,  and  for  four  years  he  was 
president  of  the  board  of  health  of  that  borough,  and  is  treasurer 
of  the  National  beneficial  association  of  Pennsylvania.  He  is 
closely  connected  with  the  advancement  and  progress  of  that  part 
of  the  county,  and  is  a  man  upon  whom  the  community  relies  to 
take  a  leading  part  in  any  movement  for  the  good  of  the  borough 
that  promises  to  be  of  a  solid  and  substantial  character. 

JOSEPH    KENNEDY,   of    Duquesne, 
Pa.,  a  retired  gardener  and   one  of  the 
oldest   and   most   prominent   citizens   of 
M  ^te       f^^^      ^'^^^     borough,    was     born     in     Indiana 
^  ♦  ' J^^     county,  Pa.,  Oct.  9,   183 1,   son    of    David 

f%^  ^H     ^"^  Catherine  (Snyder)  Kennedy.     When 

■*^^'  .^^m     twelve  years  of  age,  Mr.  Kennedy  came 

to  Allegheny  county,  and  for  several 
years  was  employed  in  the  mills  in  vari- 
ous capacities,  and  later  began  mining 
coal  for  W.  H.  Brown  &  Co.,  miners, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  seventeen 
years.  About  1866  he  located  in  Mifiiin 
township,  there  engaged  in  farming  on  an  extensive  scale,  and 
about  1873  purchased  a  farm  of  seventy  acres,  on  which  is  now 
located  the  borough  of  Duquesne.  Mr.  Kennedy  sold  his  farm  for 
manufacturing  sites,  and  nearly  thirty  acres  of  the  original  place  is 
now  occupied  by  the  Carnegie  steel  works.  He  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  borough, 
having  erected  nineteen  houses,  and  otherwise  been  instrumental 
in  its  advancement  and  prosperity,  Mr.  Kennedy  was  married,  on 
Oct.  14,  1852,  to  Priscilla,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (McFar- 
land)  Burchfield,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  had  the  following 
children,  viz.  :  Joseph  B.  ;  David;  Anna,  wife  of  Howard  L.  Black; 
Katie  (deceased),  wife  of  Samuel  Kelly;  William;  Charles;  Lillian, 
wife  of  James  O.  Reneker;  John;  Fannie  (deceased),  Frank  (de- 
ceased) and  Auriles.  Mr.  Kennedy  and  his  wife  are  consistent 
members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Duquesne, 
1-20 


306 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


and  were  among  the  founders  of  that  organization,  which  now  has 
a  large  membership  and  of  which  Mr.  Kennedy  was  an  officer  for 
many  years.  His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party, 
and  for  three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Mifflin 
township.  Mr.  Kennedy  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  that 
part  of  the  county,  and  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him. 


EMIL  W.  NEU,  of  Homestead,  Pa., 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Neu  & 
Weber,  sanitary  plumbers,  was  born  at 
Winona,  Minn.,  Aug.  15,  1866,  son  of 
Christian  Neu,  who  was  born  on  July  4, 
, ,  «_      -m^^^^     1843,  ^t  Kreishunfeldt,  Kuhrhessen,  Ger- 

■HH^  ^''^  ;^^^^H     many.     He  emigrated  to  America,  land- 
^^^^■'^MP^^^^B     ^^^  ^^    New  York   on  July  4,   1857,   and 
^^^H    ^     ^^^m      immediately     proceeded     to     Pittsburg, 
^Ib  'V-^^^^lr        ^here    he    learned    the     bakers'    trade. 
^H  -'-^^  ^^^r  Christian    Neu    served    three   years   and 

^^^^m|^^^  three  months  in  the  Union  army  during 

the  Civil  war,  being  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G,  74th  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  so  severely 
wounded  while  doing  scout  duty  at  Freeman's  Ford,  that  he  was 
left  on  the  field  for  dead.  Subsequently  he  partially  revived,  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  and  completely  cured  of  his  wounds,  and  at  the 
end  of  his  service  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  returned 
to  Pittsburg,  resumed  his  trade,  and,  in  1865,  married  Maria 
Bieber,  a  native  of  the  same  place  in  Germany  as  was  her  husband, 
but  who  came  to  America  on  Sept.  9,  1863,  and  located  in  Pitts- 
burg. Christian  Neu  was  in  business  for  himself  on  the  South 
Side,  Pittsburg,  for  eight  months  and  then  moved  to  Winona, 
Minn.,  where  he  conducted  a  baking  establishment  for  fifteen 
years.  In  1881  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  re-established  himself  in 
the  baking  business  on  the  South  Side,  and  there  prospered  until 
his  death,  April  2,  1891.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  children, 
viz.  :  Emil  W.,  Adolph  G. ;  Fredericka,  wife  of  Louis  Will;  Louisa, 
wife  of  Charles  Kessler;  Alexander,  William,  Alfred  and  Harry. 
Emil  W.  Neu  was  reared  in  Winona  and  Pittsburg,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  both  cities,  and  received  his  commercial  training 
at  Duff's  business  college,  Pittsburg.  In  1884  he  began  his  busi- 
ness career  as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  in  a  Pittsburg  plumbing  shop, 
acted  in  that  capacity  for  five  years,  and  then  served  an  appren- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  307 

ticeship  at  the  plumbing  trade,  which  he  completed  in  three  years. 
In  April,  1892,  Mr.  Neu  came  to  Homestead,  where  he  managed 
the  plumbing  establishment  of  Louis  Heilig  for  two  years,  and 
then,  with  Henry  W.  Harmeier,  purchased  the  business  of  Mr. 
Heilig,  which  they  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Neu  & 
Harmeier.  They  prospered  in  that  venture,  and  the  firm  was  con- 
tinued until  Jan.  i,  1902,  when  Mr.  Harmeier  disposed  of  his  inter- 
ests to  George  H.  Metcalfe  and  Joseph  A.  Weber,  and  the  business 
was  run  under  the  name  of  E.  W.  Neu  &  Co.  until  March  16,  1903, 
when  the  style  of  the  firm  became  Neu  &  Weber.  Mr.  Neu  was 
happily  married,  Nov.  25,  189 1,  to  Annie,  daughter  of  Bernard 
Krebs,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  one  living  daughter,  Irene. 
Mr.  Neu  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
Order  of  Americus,  the  Independent  fire  company.  No.  i,  and  the 
Turn  and  Gesang-Verein  Eintracht.  Mr.  Neu  is  a  prosperous  and 
progressive  business  man,  a  good  citizen,  and  a  provident  husband 
and  father. 

MICHAEL  FRANCIS  MUELLER,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  pastor  of  St.  Agnes' 
Roman  Catholic  church  at  Thompson's 
Run,  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  was  born  at  Luxemburg,  Germany, 
June  27,  1864,  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Steinmetz)  Mueller,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1870,  locating  at  Kirby,  Wyandot 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  Father  Mueller  was 
reared  to  manhood.  He  attended  the 
parochial  schools  of  that  section,  then  the 
college  conducted  by  the  Jesuits  at 
Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he  completed  his 
classical  and  philosophical  training.  He  received  his  theological 
education  at  St.  Vincent's,  near  Latrobe,  Pa.,  and  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood  in  1893,  in  St.  Paul's  cathedral,  by  Bishop  Phelan. 
His  first  charge  was  as  assistant  to  Rev.  J.  B.  Duffner,  at  the  Holy 
Name  church,  Troy  Hill,  Allegheny  city;  then  was  assistant  to 
Rev.  Joseph  Suhr,  at  SS.  Peter  and  Paul's  church  of  Pittsburg, 
where  he  was  for  one  and  a  half  years;  next  was  sent  as  pastor, 
pro  tempore,  to  St.  Joseph's  church  at  Verona,  where  he  remained 
for  fifteen  months.  The  next  two  years  were  spent  in  charge  of 
St.  Alphonsus'  church  at  Wexford,  Allegheny  county,  and,  in  1900, 
Father  Mueller  was  assigned  to  his  present  charge.     St.  Agnes' 


308  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

church  was  organized  about  1867,  with  a  membership  of  forty 
families,  and  now  has  about  120  families,  although  the  membership 
was  much  larger  prior  to  the  erection  of  churches  at  Duquesne  and 
Homestead,  both  of  which  have  drawn  from  St.  Agnes'  member- 
ship. The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1866  at  a  cost  of 
$12,000,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  400.  The  parochial  school  is 
in  fine  condition,  with  an  attendance  of  120  pupils,  and  in  every 
way  is  a  high  class  institution.  There  is  also  a  splendid  parochial 
residence  and  a  home  for  the  sisters.  Father  Mueller  organized 
the  Ladies'  Christian  mutual  benevolent  association  in  1902,  which 
has  forty-eight  members,  and  gives  promise  of  much  usefulness  in 
the  future. 

©FREDERICK  WILLIAM  PIRL,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Pirl  &  Kroeger,  general  blacksmiths, 
and  burgess  of  that  borough,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  county, 
June  22,  1867,  son  of  Frederick  and 
Catherine  (Goldstrom)  Pirl,  natives  of 
Germany,  where  they  were  married,  and 
about  1850  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Mifflin  township.  There  the 
elder  Pirl  worked  as  a  coal-miner  for  sev- 
eral years,  later  purchased  a  farm  and 
resided  on  the  same  until  his  death, 
Feb.  15,  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  reared  a  family 
of  seven  children,  viz.:  Margaret,  wife  of  Henry  Habermann; 
Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Fletcher;  Rosie,  wife  of  Fred  J.  Koler; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Henry  Doney;  William;  Louisa,  wife  of  William 
Auberle,  and  Frederick  W.  The  last  five  children  were  born  in 
the  same  house,  which  now  stands  in  the  second  ward  of  Duquesne. 
Frederick  W.  Pirl  was  reared  on  the  old  farm  homestead,  which  he 
now  owns,  and  attended  the  Germantown  public  school,  and  also 
spent  three  years  in  the  public  schools  of  Pittsburg.  In  1885  he 
began  his  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmiths*  trade  in  McKeesport, 
and  served  three  years,  after  which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
until  1890,  when  he  went  to  the  oil  fields  of  Venango  county.  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1892  he  located  in  Duquesne 
and  embarked  in  the  blacksmith  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Pirl  &  Evans,  which  partnership  continued  for  one  year,  when 
he    purchased    Mr.  Evans'  interests   and   conducted    the   business 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  309 

under  his  own  name.  He  prospered  in  that  venture,  and,  in  1899, 
sold  an  interest  in  his  concern  to  William  Kroeger,  and  they  have 
since  met  with  much  success  under  the  firm  name  of  Pirl  & 
Kroeger.  Mr.  Pirl  was  married,  Sept.  2^5,  1893,  to  Jean,  daughter 
of  William  and  Jean  (Frazer)  Minford,  of  Wood  Run,  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  five  children,  viz.  :  Catherine,  Carl,  Louisa, 
Jean  and  Thomas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pirl  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  Odd  Fellows  and 
Masons.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  First  National  bank  of 
Duquesne,  served  ten  years  in  the  council,  and  is  now  burgess  of 
the  borough. 

JOSEPH  SUBASIC,  of  Allegheny  city. 
Pa.,  director  of  the  American  baking 
company,  of  Millvale,  was  born  in 
Croatia,  Austria,  May  11,  1854,  son  of 
Marquis  and  Mary  (Dokman)  Subasic. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  land,  and  when  fourteen  years 
of  age  went  to  Germany  and  there  was 
in  business  for  fifteen  years.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1885,  and  was 
employed  in  Bennett's  rolling  mill  for 
six  years;  then  was  stationary  engineer 
for  Banerlein  brewing  company  for  six 
years,  and,  in  1900,  became  a  director  of  the  American  baking  com- 
pany, of  Millvale.  Mr.  Subasic  has  served  as  treasurer,  for  the 
last  four  years,  of  the  National  Croasian  society,  which  has  16,000 
members,  and  during  1902  above  $150,000  passed  through  his 
hands.  He  is  also  president  of  St.  Nickolas  Croasian  church  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  of  the  St.  Cirilus  and  Matod  societies  of  that 
city.  He  was  married,  in  1879,  to  Mary  Bestig,  of  Austria,  and 
they  have  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living, 
viz.:  Barbara,  wife  of  Joseph  Liebig;  Mary;  Joseph,  a  student  of 
St.  Mary's  parochial  school;  John,  attending  the  same  institution; 
Emma,  student  at  the  eighth  ward  school;  William  and  Anna, 
at  home.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Nickolas  Catholic  church  of 
Allegheny  city,  the  Croasian  German  Military  Shrine,  the  National 
Union,  and  of  the  republican  party.  Mr.  Subasic  is  regarded  as 
a  successful  business  man  and  is  a  citizen  of  high  standing,  as 
evidenced  by  the  numerous  positions  of  honor  and  trust  which  he 
has  held. 


310 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


HENRY  H.  BUENTE  was  born  at 
No.  847  Main  St.,  in  the  fourth  ward, 
Allegheny  city,  March  i,  1848,  He  is  a 
son  of  John  H.  and  Rosina  C.  (Speilmyer) 
Buente,  daughter  of  John  H.  Speilmyer, 
John  H.  Buente  was  born  in  Osenbruck, 
Hanover,  Germany,  Jan.  31,  1822;  came 
to  the  United  States  in  July,  1840,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  plasterer,  which 
occupation  he  followed  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Rosina  C.  (Speilmyer) 
Buente  was  born  in  Fenna,  Hanover, 
Germany,  Jan.  8,  1827,  and  came  to 
America  at  a  very  early  age  with  her  parents,  who  settled  in  Pitts- 
burg on  Dec.  20,  1836.  John  H.  Buente  and  Rosina  C.  Speilmyer 
were  married,  July  3,  1845,  i^  Pittsburg,  and  moved  to  the  fourth 
ward,  Allegheny  city,  the  same  year.  To  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren: William  H.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Henry  H.,  Edward  A.  ; 
Rosina  H. ,  now  Mrs.  George  Riddle ;  John  F.  and  William  A. ,  all 
of  Allegheny.  John  H.  Buente  enlisted  in  Company  F,  6ist  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  Aug.  i,  1861,  and  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  July  i,  1862.  Henry  H. 
Buente's  paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  maternal  grandfather  came 
to  America  in  1836,  was  a  carpenter  by  occupation,  and  died  of  yel- 
low fever  while  on  a  steamboat  trip  down  the  Mississippi,  and  was 
buried  upon  its  shores,  in  1837.  Henry  H.  Buente.  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  fourth  ward  public  school  of  Alle- 
gheny, where  he  graduated.  He  afterwards  attended  night  school, 
but  was  obliged  to  discontinue  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  when  his 
father  went  to  the  war.  He  went  to  work  in  the  tobacco  factory  of 
W.  &  D.  Rinehart,  on  Wood  street,  Pittsburg,  where  he  remained 
one  and  one- half  years.  From  there  he  found  employment  in  the 
Samuel  Reynolds  malleable  iron  works,  Allegheny  city,  and 
remained  in  that  position  for  the  same  length  of  time.  He  was 
next  employed  in  Shoenberg's  horseshoe  mill,  Pittsburg,  operat- 
ing a  steam-hammer  for  nearly  four  years.  Mr.  Buente  then 
decided  to  enter  business  for  himself,  and,  accordingly,  took  up 
the  wholesale  and  retail  tobacco  business  in  Allegheny  city,  where, 
two  years  later,  he  became  interested  in  real  estate.  This  occupa- 
tion he  followed  for  seven  years.  In  company  with  his  brother, 
Edward  A.  Buente,  he  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  business  in 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  311 

1877  under  the  firm  name  of  Buente  &  Bro. ,  in  Allegheny  city,  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  He  retired,  however,  in  1888  on 
account  of  impaired  health.  In  1889  Mr.  Buente  was  first  elected 
to  the  Allegheny  city  common  council  from  the  second  ward  for  a 
term  of  two  years,  and  was  re-elected  in  1891  and  1893,  retiring 
from  politics  in  1895.  He  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
Carnegie  library  buildings  on  Oct.  i,  1895,  which  position  he  con- 
tinues to  hold.  As  such  he  has  charge  of  the  entire  building,  with 
a  staff  of  ten  assistants.  Mr.  Buente  was  married  to  Wilhelmina 
G.  Myers,  daughter  of  Henry  Myers,  of  North  Huntingdon  town- 
ship, Westmoreland  county,  on  Oct.  i,  1874.  To  them  have  been 
born  two  children:  Ida  H.,  born  Jan.  20,  1877,  married  to 
Charles  E.  McKenry,  and  lives  in  the  East  End,  Pittsburg;  and 
Frank  H.,  born  May  5,  1881,  educated  at  Williams'  business  col- 
lege, and  is  now  bookkeeper  for  R.  J.  Steenson  &  Co.,  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Mr.  Buente  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  has  held 
many  honorable  positions  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  In  religious 
belief  Mr.  Buente  and  his  family  are  Lutherans,  and  are  members 
of  the  Bethel  church  of  that  denomination.  Mr.  Buente  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  Wm.  Thaw  council,  No.  396; 
Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs,  Beaver  avenue  conclave,  No.  83, 
and  of  Citizens'  auxiliary.  Post  No.  88,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Buente  is  a 
very  affable  gentleman,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

NICK  ACKERMAN,  of  Whitaker, 
Pa.,  a  successful  contractor  and  builder, 
was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny 
county,  March  11,  1863,  son  of  Adam  and 
Annie  (Cramer)  Ackerman,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
John  N.  Ackerman,  came  to  America 
about  1850;  settled  in  Mifflin  township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  reared 
a  large  family.  His  maternal  grand- 
father was  John  Cramer,  also  a  native  of 
Germany  and  an  early  settler  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  where  he  died  at  an 
advanced  age.  The  father  of  Nick  Ackerman  was  a  farmer  and  is 
now  quietly  living  at  Whitaker.  He  is  the  father  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz.  :  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Rushey;  Minnie  (deceased),  wife  of  Jacob  Bosh;  Frank  J.;  Nick; 
George;  Teresa,  wife  of  Nicholas  Weasion;  Kate  (deceased),  wife  of 


312  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

John  Plank;  Annie  (deceased),  wife  of  George  Steiner.  Nick 
Ackerman  was  reared  in  Mifflin  township,  educated  in  the  graded 
and  high  schools  of  Pittsburg,  served  his  apprenticeship  at  the  car- 
penters' trade  with  John  Bosh,  and  for  the  past  sixteen  years  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  building  and  contracting.  He  was 
married,  on  Jan.  i,  1887,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  August  and  Aurelia 
(Scheren)  Schindler,  of  Mififlin  township,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  Harry,  Amelia,  Elmer,  Sylvester  and  Cecelia.  Mr. 
Ackerman  is  a  member  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church  of  Home- 
stead and  of  the  Maccabees,  and  his  political  affiliations  are  with 
the  democratic  party. 

WILLIAM  JOSEPH  FILCER,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  senior  member  of  Filcer 
&  Blair,  editors  and  proprietors  of  the 
Observer,  was  born  in  West  Newton,  Pa., 
Feb.  8,  1 87 1,  son  of  George  P.  and  Anna 
(Strebig)  Filcer,  natives  of  Center  and 
Fayette  counties,  respectively,  and  of 
German  descent.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Peter  Filcer,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  his  maternal  grandfather, 
William  Strebig,  was  born  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania,  a  miller  by  trade,  and  for 
over  sixty  years  a  resident  of  West  New- 
ton, Pa.  William  Strebig  married  Mary  Vance,  of  Brownsville, 
Pa.,  a  member  of  a  prominent  Keystone  family  and  a  woman  of 
many  fine  traits  of  character.  George  P.  Filcer,  father  of 
William  J.,  was  a  boiler-maker  by  trade,  and  spent  the  major  por- 
tion of  his  life  at  Connellsville,  Pa.,  where  he  was  married.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  served  throughout  that  sanguinary 
conflict  as  a  private,  and  subsequently  was  for  many  years  foreman 
in  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  shops  at  Connellsville,  where  he 
died  in  1886.  His  children  were:  William  J.,  George  E., 
Margaret  M.,  wife  of  William  Reese,  and  John  M.  William  J. 
Filcer  was  reared  in  Connellsville,  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  borough,  and  there  learned  the  printers'  trade  in  the 
Courier  office.  Subsequently  he  worked  for  six  years  as  a  journey- 
man in  Connellsville  and  McKeesport,  and,  in  1894,  located  at 
Duquesne,  where  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Observer,  and 
has  since  been  connected  with  that  journal  as  one  of  the  editors  and 
proprietors.     Mr.  Filcer  was  happily  married,   June   29,    1893,  to 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  313 

Myrtle,  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Missouri  (Ringler)  Hay,  of  New 
Haven,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Myrtle  Margaret.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Holy  Name  Catholic  church,  and  his  political 
affiliations  are  with  the  democratic  party. 

JONAS  MECHLING  KISTLER,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  assistant  superintendent 
of  the  Prudential  insurance  company  of 
America,  was  born  in  Franklin  township, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  29,  1858; 
son  of  Samuel  and  Eva  S.  (Loughner) 
Kistler,  both  natives  of  Westmoreland 
4  -^^  ^^^H  county.  Pa.,  his  father  having  been  born 
^^^^  ^^^Km      in    Franklin  township  and  his  mother  at 

^^^^^«^^4  Greensburg.      His  father  lived  for  nearly 

^^^^K^^^M  seventy   years  on   one  farm  in  Franklin 

^^^■^^P^  township,    where  he  died  in  1883,  at  the 

mature  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Samuel 
Kistler  was  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Fink,  who  bore  him  eighteen 
children,  thirteen  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz.  :  Mary  A.,  wife 
of  Jacob  Mann;  Jacob,  Josiah,  Michael  F. ;  Catherine  (deceased), 
wife  of  Josiah  Wagaman;  Henry  J.,  Paul  F. ;  Aggie  M.,  wife  of 
Levi  Glunt;  Annie,  wife  of  John  Carroll;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Henry 
Oburn;  Sarah  (deceased),  wife  of  Calvin  McCormick;  Lydia,  wife 
of  Peter  Frissell,  and  John  (deceased).  His  second  marriage  was 
with  Eva  S.  Klingensmith,  widow  of  Lewis  Klingensmith  and 
daughter  of  John  Loughner,  who,  by  her  former  marriage,  had  two 
children,  Cyrus  and  Lewis,  and  who  bore  Mr.  Kistler  five  children, 
viz. :  Jonas  M. ;  Phoebe  R.,  wife  of  James  P.  Heckman^  Fannie  R., 
wife  of  J.  S.  Stotler;  Emma  S.,  wife  of  Jesse  B.  Klingensmith, 
and  Eli  L.  Jonas  M.  Kistler  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in 
Westmoreland  county,  there  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old'  left  home  for  Iowa  and  Nebraska,  in 
which  states  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  two  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1879,  Mr.  Kistler  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  in  the  following 
spring  became  a  locomotive  fireman  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
being  promoted  to  an  engineer  in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  for  ten 
years  continued  with  that  company  as  engineman.  In  1895  Mr. 
Kistler  engaged  in  the  butcher  and  dairy  business  at  Derry  Station, 
near  Latrobe,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  eighteen  months;  then 
for  two  years  was  manager  of  a  grocery  business  at  Irwin,  Pa. ;  in 
March,   1899,  located  at  Homestead,  where  he  conducted  a  variety 


314  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

store  for  nine  months,  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Prudential 
insurance  company  as  a  solicitor  and  six  months  later  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  of  assistant  superintendent,  with  head- 
quarters at  Homestead,  and  since  has  ably  discharged  the  complex 
duties  of  that  important  office.  Mr.  Kistler  was  married,  on  Sept. 
19,  1883,  to  Flora  E,,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Matilda  J.  (McGuire) 
Spear,  of  Derry  Station,  Pa.,  and  they  have  three  children,  viz.: 
Robert  L.,  Harry  A.  and  Mildred  M.  Mr.  Kistler  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  is  a  member  of 
Hiram  lodge,  No.  69,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  of  Irwin 
Station;  Shidle  lodge.  No.  601,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  of  the  republican  party. 

WILLIAM  MacBROOM,  a  retired 
business  man  of  Homestead,  is  a  native 
of  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  where  he  was 
born  Dec.  29,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
Archibald  and  Ellen  (Robertson)  Mac- 
Broom.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Ayrshire,  and  then  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  at  the 
boiler-makers'  trade  in  the  city  of  Glas- 
gow. On  New  Year's  day,  in  1864,  he 
was  married  to  Margaret,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Barr)  Chalmers,  of  Glas- 
gow, and  in  the  following  spring  came 
with  his  young  wife  to  America,  locating  at  Pittsburg.  For  three 
years  he  worked  as  a  miner  at  Saw  Mill  Run.  He  then  went  to 
Mansfield  (now  Carnegie),  and  worked  several  years  in  the  mines 
there.  His  father  died  in  Scotland,  and  in  1866  his  mother  came 
to  America  and  joined  her  son  at  Carnegie,  where  she  lived  until 
her  death,  which  occurred  in  1879.  In  [873  William  MacBroom 
was  elected  constable  of  Mansfield  and  held  the  office  until  April, 
1882,  when  he  removed  to  Homestead,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  his  trade  in  the  Carnegie  mill  until  1884,  when  he  was 
elected  constable  and  chief  of  police,  holding  both  offices  until  1888. 
He  resigned  at  that  time  to  become  the  chief  of  the  coal  and  iron 
police  of  the  Carnegie  steel  company,  and  held  that  position  until 
he  resigned,  in  1892.  Mr.  MacBroom  then  entered  the  hotel  busi- 
ness as  the  proprietor  of  the  Garfield  house,  where  he  continued 
until  1899,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  son  with  the  intention  of  retir- 
ing  from    active    business.     The   following   year   he   erected    the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  315 

Liberty  hotel,  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  avenue  and  McClure  street, 
which  has  since  been  conducted  by  his  son,  Gilbert,  and  which  is 
one  of  the  leading  hotels  of  Homestead.  He  still  owns  this  hotel 
building,  as  well  as  valuable  residence  property  on  Fourth  avenue. 
William  MacBroom  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
viz.  :  John;  Mary  B.,  wife  of  Andrew  Helles;  Margaret,  wife  of 
Daniel  W.  Williams;  Ellen,  wife  of  Harry  H.  Layman;  William, 
Gilbert,  Walter  (now  deceased),  and  Jane  G.,  wife  of  August 
Meister.  Both  Mr.  MacBroom  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  thirty-nine  years,  and  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  for  twenty  years.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  B,  P.  O.  Elks,  which  order  he  joined  in  1902,  and  of  the 
Heptasophs.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  republican  party, 
and,  like  all  canny  Scots,  is  never  backward  in  standing  up  for  his 
convictions. 

^^^^^^  SAMUEL  McELHINEY,  a  citizen  of 

^^^^^^^^^^  Mifflin    township,   was   born   on    a   farm 

at^^f^^^^^^^        ^11  Jefferson  township,  on  June  4,  1868. 
f^SS^Hp^  flt^^^k       -^^    ^^    ^    ^^^     °^    David    and    Zeruiah 
.    ^P"^^  ^^^      (McGowan)   McElhiney,  both  natives  of 
^Hjk^I.  ^^^1     Allegheny  county.     The  McElhiney  and 
jH|^^^^^H     the     McGowan     families    are    old     resi- 
--  'A.  ^iP^n^^^W     dents  of  Pennsylvania  and  well  known  in 
^^^^Li^H^^^^V      this   section    of   the    State,  the   paternal 
^^^^^^^^^^v        grandfather     having     long     served     his 
^^^^^H^^^         county     as      commissioner,     and      John 
^^^^H^^^  McGowan,    the     maternal     grandfather, 

being  as  prominently  associated  with  the 
history  of  Allegheny  county.  The  father,  David  McElhiney,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  having  removed  to  Mifflin  township  in  1891, 
where  he  died  in  1898  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He  was 
the  father  of  the  following  children:  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  William 
McKee;  James,  John,  Charles,  Thomas,  Julia  (deceased),  William 
(deceased),  Samuel,  Perry  and  Joseph.  Samuel  McElhiney,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in  his  native  county  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there,  and  upon  reaching  manhood, 
turned  his  attention  to  agriculture  and  kindred  pursuits.  On 
Nov.  19,  1901,  he  led  to  the  altar  Philomena  Schweitzer,  a  daughter 
of  Frank  and  Annie  (Hackler)  Schweitzer,  of  Mifflin  township. 
One  son,  John  B.,  has  come  to  bless  their  union.     Mr.  McElhiney 


316  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and  wife  are  members  of  St.  Agnes'  Catholic  church  of  Thompson's 
Run,  and  are  prominent  in  the  religious  and  social  circles  of  the 
township  in  which  they  reside.  Mr.  McElhiney  was  elected 
township  treasurer  in  the  spring  of  1903  on  the  democratic  and 
citizens'  ticket,  for  a  term  of  three  years. 

©DAVID  BLAIR  DUBLIN,  of  Home- 
stead, Pa.,  the  popular  proprietor  of  the 
Hotel  Dublin,  was  born  in  Frankstown, 
Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  May  i,  1858,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Susan  (Henry)  Dublin,  both  natives 
of  Blair  county.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  also  a  native  of  Blair  county,  of  Ger- 
man descent  and  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  John  Henry, 
was  a  native  of  Yellow  Springs,  a  pioneer 
farmer  of  Blair  county,  where  all  of  his 
mature  life  was  spent,  and  was  also  of 
German  extraction.  Daniel  Dublin,  father 
of  David  B  ,  was  born  and  reared  in  Blair  county,  for  many  years 
was  captain  of  a  boat  which  ran  on  the  canal  from  Hollidaysburg 
to  Havre  de  Grace,  served  three  years  and  nine  months  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  war  and  died  at  Williamsburg,  Pa.,  in 
1867.  He  left  a  family  of  four  children,  viz.  :  Clarence  (deceased), 
David  B.,  James,  of  Altoona,  Pa.,  and  Alfred,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
David  B.  Dublin  was  reared  in  Blair  and  Fayette  counties.  Pa.,  hav- 
ing resided  at  Connellsville  from  his  thirteenth  to  his  twenty- 
second  year,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  which  he 
left  to  become  a  coke-burner.  He  followed  that  occupation  from 
1873  to  1879,  and  then  for  three  years  worked  in  the  rolling  mills 
of  Scottdale  and  Pittsburg.  Subsequently  he  worked  at  the  car- 
penters' trade  in  Pittsburg  and  Connellsville  until  1891,  when  he 
began  the  hotel  business  at  Scottdale,  and  there  prospered  for  two 
years  and  eight  months.  In  1894  Mr.  Dublin  purchased  the  Rat- 
tigan  House,  at  Homestead,  which  he  conducted  for  three  and  one- 
half  years,  and,  in  1898,  purchased  his  present  place  on  Fifth 
avenue,  which  he  rebuilt  as  the  Hotel  Dublin  and  has  since  suc- 
cessfully run.  He  was  happily  married,  on  Sept.  23,  1884,  to 
Bridget,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Margaret  Kelley,  of  Connells- 
ville, but  formerly  of  Ireland,  and  has  one  son,  Charles  B.  Mr. 
Dublin  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene's  Roman  Catholic 
church,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Elks,  the  republican  party,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  317 

was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Homestead  trust  company,  which 
was  organized  in  1903.  Mr.  Dublin  has  a  splendid  hotel,  with  all 
modern  improvements,  and  conducts  a  strictly  first-class  hostelry. 

ROBERT  HENRY  HEATH,  of  Dra- 
vosburg.  Pa.,  the  popular  and  efficient 
counter  clerk  in  the  county  recorder's 
office,  was  born  in  Lincoln  township, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  22,  1869;  son  of 
Henry  G.  and  Rebecca  (Davis)  Heath, 
both  natives  of  Lincoln  township.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  Henry  Heath, 
descendant  from  one  of  the  colonial 
families  of  America,  members  of  which 
have  been  prominent  in  the  wars  of 
America;  William,  an  uncle  of  subject, 
having  been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge,  and  Winfield,  a  cousin,  wounded  in  the  Modoc  and  Sioux 
troubles.  The  Heath  family  first  settled  in  America  at  Heathtown, 
Va.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  this  subject  was  Enoch  Davis,  a 
native  of  Wales,  who  resided  at  West  Elizabeth  for  many  years 
and  there  was  employed  in  the  coal  mines  of  O'Neal  brothers  until 
his  death.  Henry  G.  Heath,  father  of  Robert  Henry,  is  a  resident 
of  West  Elizabeth,  where  for  many  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
mining,  and  at  present  is  foreman  for  the  Ella  coal  company  in 
their  mines.  Robert  Henry  Heath  was  reared  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, educated  in  the  primary  courses  in  the  public  schools  and  later 
attended  the  Grove  City  academy,  the  Independent  normal  school  at 
Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  the  Northern  Indiana  normal  school  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Ind.  Then  he  taught  school  for  three  years  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Allegheny  Co.,  Pa, ;  two  years  in  Lincoln  township,  one  year 
at  Port  Vue,  and  at  these  various  places  made  a  distinct  success  of 
that  arduous  calling.  Mr.  Heath  has  been  more  or  less  connected 
with  the  mines  from  the  ninth  year  of  his  life  until  1903,  held  the 
position  of  mine  foreman  for  four  years  and  also  occupied  a  very 
responsible  position  in  the  mills  of  McKeesport.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Spanish-American  war,  he  was  selected  by  the  mill 
men  as  orator  on  the  occasion  of  the  raising  of  the  United  States 
flag  over  the  mills,  and  acquitted  himself  with  credit  and  distinc- 
tion. Prior  to  this  he  had  made  a  fine  record  as  a  speaker  and 
orator,  winning  unusual  honors  in  that  line  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.  In 
March,    1903,  he  was  appointed  index  clerk  in  the  recorder's  office. 


318 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


and  on  June  lo,  1903,  promoted  to  his  present  position  of  counter 
clerk,  which  place  he  fills  with  skill  and  ability.  Mr.  Heath  was 
married,  on  Oct.  18,  1901,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah 
Lynn,  of  MifHin  township,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Rebecca. 
He  is  prominently  identified  with  a  number  of  fraternal  orders, 
holding  membership  in  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics,  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  the  United 
mine  workers  of  America,  and  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Mr.  Heath 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Mifflin  township  for  five 
years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1902  was  a  prominent  candidate  for  the 
legislature  on  the  citizens'  ticket  and,  though  defeated,  received  a 
most  flattering  vote,  running  ahead  of  his  ticket  by  1,600  votes. 


VICTOR  HUGO  SCHULZ,  of  Home- 
stead.  Pa.,  a  successful  and  prosperous 
dairyman,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Dec. 
27,  1879,  son  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Worth) 
Schulz,  both  natives  of  Germany.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Schulz,  of 
Saarbriicken,  Prussia,  came  to  America 
about  1849,  aiid  for  niany  years  was  a 
resident  of  Mifflin  township,  where  he 
was  successfully  engaged  in  his  profes- 
sion of  teaching,  and  owned  a  part  of  the 
site  of  the  present  village  of  Whitaker, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming  during  the 
His  wife  was  Rachael  Reis,  also  a  native 
a  woman  of  many  fine  traits  of  character. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Schulz  were  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
(Stoft)  Worth,  of  Germany.  Edward  Schulz,  father  of  the  subject, 
is  a  retired  puddler,  and  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Pittsburg, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  different  mills  of  that  city,  and  in 
1893  located  at  Homestead,  where  he  is  now  quietly  spending  the 
declining  years  of  an  active  and  worthy  life.  Edward  Schulz  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  viz.:  Rudolph  E.,  rector  of  Coraopolis 
Episcopal  church;  Victor  H.,  Otto,  Eleanor  and  Herman.  Victor 
H.  Schulz  was  reared  at  Homestead  from  his  twelfth  year, 
attended  the  public  schools  of  that  borough,  and  when  fourteen 
years  of  age,  embarked  in  the  dairy  business  with  a  capital  of  one 
cow,  unlimited  energy  and  a  full  stock  of  hope.  His  business  has 
prospered  and  grown  like  the  scriptural  bay-tree,  and  at  times  has 
expanded  to  such  extent  that  it  has  been  necessary  for  him  to  sell 


latter   years  of  his  life. 
of   the   Fatherland   and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  319 

a  part  of  his  route.  He  is  now  doing  a  business  of  .$9,000  annually 
and  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  substantial  young  men  of  Home- 
stead. Mr.  Schulz  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  the 
Odd  Fellows,  and  his  political  affiliations  are  with  the  democratic 
party. 

ARTHUR  PITTS,  of  Duquesne,  Pa., 
a  prominent  real  estate  and  fire  insurance 
agent,  was  born  at  Johnstown,  Pa., 
May  6,  1864.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Flint)  Pitts,  natives  of  England, 
who  came  to  America  in  a  sailing  vessel 
about  1853,  and  located  at  Johnstown. 
Here  James  Pitts  engaged  in  the  coal 
business  and  as  general  contractor  until 
1873,  when  he  removed  to  McKeesport, 
where  he  now  resides.  Mary  (Flint) 
Pitts  died  Feb.  22,  1901,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Pitts  there  were  born  eight  children,  viz.:  George  F.  ;  Enoch  W., 
who  is  cashier  and  vice-president  of  the  People's  bank  of  McKees- 
port; Mary  A.,  Arthur  B.,  Lillian  E.  ;  James  H.,  a  successful  real 
estate  agent  of  Glassport,  Pa.  ;  Charles  A.  and  Frank,  the  two 
latter  deceased.  Arthur  B.  Pitts  was  reared  at  McKeesport,  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  for  thirteen  years  was 
there  employed  in  the  National  tube  works.  In  1890  he  located  at 
Duquesne,  and  there  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  real  estate 
office  of  his  brother,  George  F.  Pitts,  until  Feb.  25,  1899,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  on  his  own  account,  handling 
his  own  property  as  well  as  that  of  others,  and  has  since  met  with 
much  success  in  that  venture.  On  Sept.  21,  1901,  he  purchased  the 
entire  business  of  his  brother,  Geo.  F.  (now  located  in  Pittsburg), 
the  confidence  of  whose  former  patrons  he  enjoys.  On  its  organ- 
ization, he  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Home  title  and  trust  com- 
pany of  Duquesne,  one  of  the  most  successful  institutions  in  the 
borough.  He  is  also  a  notary  public  and  secretary  of  the  Duquesne 
board  of  health.  Mr.  Pitts  was  happily  married,  Nov.  10,  1891,  to 
Anna  B.,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Christiana  (Mohn)  Rissler,  of 
McKeesport,  and  their  home  life  is  an  ideal  one.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Duquesne ;  Eclipse  lodge, 
No.  892,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Vesta  lodge.  No.  352, 
Knights   of    Pythias,    and  major   of    3d   battalion,    ist   regiment, 


320  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

U.  R.  K.  P. ;  also  member  of  Vesta  company,  No.  64,  Uniform 
rank,  Knights  of  Pythias;  McKeesport  lodge,  No.  136,  B.  P.  O. 
Elks;  Aliquippa  tent,  No.  70,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees;  White 
Rose  council,  No.  1932,  Royal  Arcanum,  of  which  he  is  past  regent. 
He  is  also  a  member  and  treasurer  of  Duquesne  commandery. 
No.  331,  Knights  of  Malta.  His  political  associations  are  with  the 
republican  party,  having  served  from  1894  to  1897  as  tax  collector 
of  Duquesne,  and  is  prominent  in  political  affairs. 

LESTER  HAVEN  BOTKIN,  M.  D., 
of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  a  prominent  physician, 
was  born  at  Claysville,  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  13,  1859,  son  of  George  W.  and 
Nancy  (McCracken)  Botkin,  natives  of 
Fayette  and  Washington  counties,  re- 
spectively, and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
His  father  was  a  resident  of  Claysville  for 
many  years,  in  early  life  was  a  stage 
driver  on  the  National  pike,  dealt  in  live- 
stock to  some  extent,  and  held  the  posi- 
tion of  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  also  a  commissioner 
of  the  National  pike,  and  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz.:  George  W.,  now  deceased;  Emma, 
wife  of  David  Frazier;  Lewis  C. ,  a  practicing  physician  of  Burgetts- 
town,  Pa.,  and  Lester  H.  Mr.  Botkin  was  reared  in  Claysville, 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  and  there  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  M.  Sprowls,  a  capable  and  success- 
ful physician.  In  1887  he  matriculated  at  the  medical  department 
of  the  West  Pennsylvania  college,  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1888,  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  Then  he 
located  at  Duquesne,  there  initiated  his  medical  career,  and  has 
since  met  with  much  success  in  his  profession,  being  regarded  and 
esteemed  as  one  of  the  leading  practitioners  of  that  section  of  the 
county.  Dr.  Botkin  was  married,  March  21,  1883,  to  Jennie, 
daughter  of  James  and  Catherine  (Miller)  McKee,  of  Claysville, 
Pa.,  and  they  have  four  children,  viz.:  George  McKee  (deceased), 
Mabel,  Bessie  and  Robert  L.  Dr.  Botkin  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  been  surgeon  of  the  Carnegie 
steel  works,  Duquesne,  since  1889,  and  also  has  served  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad  in  a  similar  capacity  during  the  same  period.  He 
is  one  of  the  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Duquesne, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  321 

and  despite  the  exactions  of  a  busy  professional  career,  has  found 
time  to  devote  to  municipal  affairs,  having  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  eight  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
councilman  from  the  first  ward, 

JOSEPH  H.  McKEE,  physician  and 
surgeon,  of  Carnegie,  is  one  of  an  old  and 
honored  family.  His  great-grandfather, 
John  McKee,  fought  all  during  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  was  personally 
acquainted  with  Lafayette.  On  the  occa- 
sion of  Lafayette's  visit  to  America,  in 
1824,  Mr.  McKee  went  to  Brownsville, 
Pa.,  to  see  him  and  brought  home  a  silk 
handkerchief  which  the  famous  French- 
man had  given  him,  John  McKee  was 
also  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  18 12.  His 
son,  Henry,  an  early  settler,  had  a  son, 
Finley,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Finley  McKee  was  a 
school  teacher  by  profession,  teaching  school  in  the  winter  and 
farming  during  the  summer  months.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
teachers  of  Pennsylvania,  was  noted  for  his  success  as  a  teacher, 
and  rendered  a  great  service  to  his  State  at  a  time  when  learning 
was  not  plentiful.  He  married  Eliza  A.  Harper,  whose  ancestors 
came  to  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day  from  Scotland.  Finley 
McKee  was  born  in  1828,  and  died  in  1895.  His  wife  died  four 
years  later,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  Of  the  nine  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Finley  McKee,  Daniel,  a  State  normal  graduate, 
is  a  Methodist  minister  at  Columbia,  Pa. ;  Anna  married  C.  Blair, 
a  farmer  in  Fayette  county;  Henry  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
Joseph  H.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Clement  L.,  a  graduate  of 
Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  is  pastor  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church  at  Wellsville,  Ohio;  William  F.,  a  graduate  of  Ada  col- 
lege, Ohio,  is  a  Presbyterian  minister  at  Turtle  Creek,  Pa. ;  Mar- 
gery H.,  who  graduated  from  the  California  State  normal  school 
and  taught  school  for  several  years,  is  married  to  James  P.  Hagen 
and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Fayette  county;  Mary  E.  is  teaching  school 
in  Perryopolis,  Pa.,  and  Joel  S.,  a  graduate  of  Ada  college,  taught 
school  several  years  and  is  now  a  bank  clerk  in  Connellsville,  Pa. 
Joseph  H.  McKee  was  born  in  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  Feb.  26,  1862. 
After  attending  the  public  schools  he  became  a  student  at  the 
Southwestern  State  normal  school,  graduating  in  1884,  and  later  a 
1-21 


322  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

member  of  the  class  of  1891  of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  medical 
college,  of  Pittsburg.  He  earned  his  way  through  college  by 
teaching  school,  and  studied  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Ellis 
Phillips,  of  New  Haven,  Pa.  Immediately  after  completing  his 
preparation  for  a  medical  career.  Dr.  McKee  began  to  practice 
medicine  at  Woodville,  Allegheny  county,  and  six  years  later 
moved  to  Carnegie,  where,  since  1898,  he  has  devoted  his  time  to 
a  steadily  increasing  practice.  He  holds  the  position  of  medical 
examiner  for  several  societies  and  for  the  Prudential  life  insurance 
company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Carnegie  board  of  health  and 
belongs  to  several  secret  orders,  among  them  the  National  Union, 
Order  of  Scottish  Clans  and  Protected  Home  Circle,  and  is  a  past 
president  of  the  latter  organization.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  has  for  several  years  been  a  rul- 
ing elder.  Mr.  McKee  was  married,  in  1893,  to  Miss  Lottie  L. 
Keller,  of  Woodville,  daughter  of  D,  P.  Keller,  an  officer  in  the 
Allegheny  county  workhouse,  and  granddaughter  of  David 
Nelson  Lea,  a  member  of  the  Clarke  expedition  and  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  western  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  McKee  and  wife  have  had 
two  children.  Joseph  H.  is  living,  but  Wilbur  F.  died  when  three 
months  old. 

JOSEPH  ALOYSIUS  WEBER,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Neu  &  Weber,  sanitary  plumbers,  was  born 
in  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
April  10,  1880,  son  of  Joseph  and  Theresa 
(Goldbach)  Weber,  natives  of  Germany 
and  Baldwin  township,  Allegheny  county, 
Pa.,  respectively.  His  maternal  grand- 
father was  Bernard  Goldbach,  who  came 
to  America  about  1854,  settled  in  Bald- 
win township  and  there  engaged  in 
farming.  His  wife  was  Sophia  Bott  and 
a  most  estimable  woman.  Joseph  Weber, 
fatherof  our  subject,  came  to  America  about  1876,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Mifflin  township,  and  is  now  interested  in  a  plumbing  busi- 
ness at  Duquesne.  His  living  children  are:  Henry  W.,  Joseph  A., 
Louis,  Cecelia,  Emma,  Frederick,  Mary,  Veronica,  William,  Phyllis 
and  Jennie.  Joseph  A.  Weber  was  reared  in  Mifflin  township,  edu- 
cated at  St.  Agnes'  parochial  school,  of  Thompson's  Run,  and  after 
serving  a  five-year  apprenticeship  at  the  plumbers'  trade,  became  a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  323 

member  of  the  firm  of  E.  W.  Neu  &  Co.,  sanitar}''  plumbers,  of  Home- 
stead. Thisfirmmet  with  much  success  from  Dec.  31,  1901,  to  March 
16,  1903,  when  the  firm  was  changed  to  Neu  &  Weber,  under  which 
name  they  have  since  enjoyed  a  splendid  business.  Mr.  "Weber 
was  happily  married,  on  April  13,  1901,  to  Emma,  daughter  of 
Charles  Leisegang,  of  Baldwin  township,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Margaret.  Mr.  Weber  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
St.  Francis  Catholic  church,  of  Homestead,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Armour  Plate  council,  Order  of  Americus.  Mr.  Weber  is  a 
young  man  of  exceptional  ability  and  unusual  energy  and  is  mak- 
ing a  great  success  of  his  industrial  career. 

OSCAR  PATTERSON  LAWSON,  of 
the  Lawson  plumbing  company,  of  Home- 
stead, Pa.,  was  born  near  Perrysville, 
Allegheny  county,  Feb.  9,  1868.  He  is  a 
sonof  James  N.  and  Frances  P.  (Osborne) 
Lawson.  (For  family  history,  see  the 
sketch  of  L.  S.  Lawson).  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  Allegheny  county, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools, 
served  his  apprenticeship  at  the  plumbers' 
trade  in  his  father's  establishment,  and 
where  he  worked  for  several  years  as  a 
journeyman  plumber.  His  father  began 
business  in  1875.  After  his  death,  in  1900,  the  business  was  con- 
tinued under  the  name  of  James  N.  Lawson's  Sons,  until  1901, 
when  it  was  incorporated  as  the  Lawson  plumbing  company,  Oscar 
P.  Lawson  and  William  L.  Davis  being  the  proprietors  and  incor- 
porators. It  is  one  of  the  leading  plumbing  concerns  in  Home- 
stead. Mr.  Lawson  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Peterson)  Gibbs,  of 
Homestead.  By  this  marriage  he  has  one  child,  James  A.  His  sec- 
ond wife  is  Grace  E.,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Margaret  E.  (Wood) 
Thomson,  of  Jefferson,  Ohio.  To  this  second  marriage  there  have 
been  born  three  children:  Grace  E.,  Hilda  F.  and  M.  Percival, 
In  politics  he  is  independent,  voting  as  his  judgment  dictates,  for 
the  men  and  measures  that  he  thinks  will  best  subserve  the  public 
interests.  He  is  a  member  of  Homestead  lodge.  No.  1049,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Order  of  Americus,  and  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


324  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

CHARLES  C.  REEL,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing funeral  directors  of  Allegheny  city, 
was  born  in  the  fourth  ward  of  that  city, 
Oct.  2,  1859.  He  is  the  son  of  John  A. 
Reel  (deceased),  and  a  great-grandson  of 
Casper  Reel,  Sr.,  who  was  the  first  white 
man  to  settle  in  Ross  township,  Allegheny 
county.  Conrad  Reel,  the  eldest  son  of 
Casper  Reel,  Sr. ,  was  the  first  postmaster 
in  Ross  township.  He  and  his  sons  estab- 
lished the  first  woolen  mills  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  at  Perrysville,  in 
1824,  the  mills  being  removed  to  Alle- 
gheny city  in  1841,  and  were  in  operation  until  1890.  John  A. 
Reel,  the  second  son  of  Conrad  Reel,  was  born  at  Perrysville,  in 
March,  1830,  and  died  in  1892.  Margaret  Reel,  his  widow,  is  still 
living  and  resides  on  Sherman  avenue,  in  Allegheny  city.  The 
other  children  of  Conrad  Reel  were:  Jacob  G.,  the  eldest,  who  is 
living  at  the  old  homestead  on  Church  avenue;  Mrs.  Annie  E. 
McGuire,  widow  of  the  late  Hugh  McGuire,  of  New  Brighton,  Pa., 
and  William  H.  Reel,  who  died  in  1901.  John  A.  Reel  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living:  Charles 
C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Francis  M.,  who  is  foreman  for  the 
Mackenzie-Davis  lithographing  company,  of  Pittsburg;  John  A., 
Jr.,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Reel  &  Michels,  plumbers,  of 
Allegheny  city;  Harry  G. ,  who  is  associated  with  Geo.  B.  Hender- 
son in  the  butter  and  Q.g<g  business  in  Pittsburg;  Homer  L  J.,  a 
plumber;  Cecilia  M.,  wife  of  George  B.  Henderson;  and  Anna  K., 
who  resides  at  home  with  her  mother.  Charles  C.  Reel  was  educated 
in  the  parochial  and  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  after  which 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  machinists'  trade  with  the  firm 
of  James  Rees  &  Son,  of  Pittsburg,  remaining  in  the  employ  of 
this  firm  for  six  years,  when  he  accepted  a  position  with  the  West- 
inghouse  air  brake  company,  remaining  for  about  ten  years.  He 
then  took  a  course  of  embalming  in  the  Oriental  college  of  embalm- 
ing, graduating  in  1892.  His  first  place  of  business  was  on  Federal 
street,  in  Allegheny  city,  but  later  he  removed  to  his  present 
location  at  No.  215  West  Ohio  St  ,  where  he  has  one  of  the  best 
appointed  undertaking  establishments  in  the  county  and  has  the 
confidence  of  the  best  people  in  the  two  cities.  Besides  this  busi- 
ness he  is  interested  in  various  other  enterprises,  being  executor, 
administrator  and  trustee  of  several  different  estates,  a  stockholder 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  325 

in  the  Mount  Royal  cemetery  company,  the  Pennsylvania  college 
of  embalming,  and  various  other  interests.  Mr.  Reel  is  a  member 
of  several  fraternal  organizations,  being  treasurer  of  Ethel  con- 
clave, No,  314,  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs;  trustee  of 
Branch  No.  43,  of  the  Catholic  mutual  benefit  association;  deputy 
grand  knight  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus:  a  member  of  Lafayette 
council,  No.  447,  Young  Men's  Institute,  and  of  Allegheny  lodge. 
No.  339,  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  He  is  also  one  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  Allegheny  county  funeral  directors'  association. 
In  1883  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  D.  O'Neil,  of  Mason  City,  W. 
Va.  She  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  southern 
Ohio  and  West  Virginia. 

AUGUST  ABBOTT,  ice  dealer  of  Car- 
negie, was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa. , 
May  10,  1853.  His  parents.  Christian 
and  Helena  (Schmeltz)  Abbott,  were 
both  born  in  Germany.  Christian  Abbott, 
born  June  16,  1825,  came  to  America 
when  ten  years  old.  He  followed,  for  sev- 
eral years,  the  vocation  of  a  glass-worker, 
then  took  up  farming,  and  later  bought  in 
Scott  township,  Allegheny  county,  the 
farm  which  is  now  owned  by  his  heirs. 
Later  he  purchased  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cloakey  another  farm,  which  is  also 
owned  by  his  heirs.  The  last  years  of  his  life  he  spent  in  retire- 
ment at  Carnegie.  He  died  June  22,  1897.  During  his  life  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he 
held  several  offices.  At  different  times  he  held  several  minor 
public  offices,  among  them  being  the  positions  of  assessor  and 
school  director.  His  wife  died  Aug.  12,  1896,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six.  Christian  Abbott  and  wife  had  nine  children,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second.  The  others  are:  Carolina, 
now  Mrs.  Charles  Schmeltz,  who  lives  in  Scott  township;  Amelia, 
wife  of  John  Wise,  a  resident  of  Baldwin  township;  Edward,  a 
farmer  at  Mount  Lebanon;  Kate,  who  married  Charles  Gettle,  of 
Homestead;  Lizzie,  now  Mrs.  George  Kuhlman,  of  Coraopolis; 
Anna,  now  Mrs.  Adolph  Doer,  of  Homestead;  Rosa,  who  is  also  a 
resident  of  Allegheny  county,  and  William,  who  lives  at  Bellevue. 
August  Abbott,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  butcher,  working  at 


326  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

his  trade  for  four  years  in  Pittsburg.  He  came  to  Carnegie,  where 
he  followed  his  vocation  as  a  butcher  for  twenty  years.  In  1895 
he  embarked  in  the  ice  business,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
this  line,  meeting  with  marked  success.  He  employs  twelve  men, 
and  his  plant  has  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  tons  a  day,  producing 
ice  for  Bridge ville,  Oakdale  and  the  surrounding  towns.  In  1880 
Mr.  Abbott  married  Miss  Helena  Stauffer,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  with  two  brothers  and  a  sister,  when 
eighteen  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbott  have  seven  children. 
Florence  is  a  student  at  Pittsburg  academy,  Sylvia  C.  is  a  graduate 
of  Carnegie  high  school,  and  the  others,  Hallie,  Nellie,  Jennie, 
Frederick  and  Christian,  are  younger  children  at  home.  Mr. 
Abbott  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Abbott  is  president  of  the  congregation,  and  several  of  the  children 
are  United  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Abbott  is  a  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Mechanics.  He  has  found  his  time  too  much  occupied  with 
business  duties  to  take  an  active  interest  in  politics. 

ROBERT  C.  CRAIG,  A.  M.,  M.  D., 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful  physician, 
was  born  in  Staunton,  Va.,  Aug.  6,  1875, 
son  of  William  E.  and  Annie  E.  (Ayres) 
Craig,  the  former  a  prominent  lawyer 
and  United  States  attorney.  Dr.  Craig 
was  educated  in  the  Staunton  academy 
and  at  the  Roanoke  college,  graduating 
from  the  latter  institution  in  1893,  with 
the  degree  of  master  of  arts.  He  matric- 
ulated at  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Virginia  and  was  graduated  . 
from  that  historic  institution  in  1896,  with 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  On  graduating,  he  entered  the 
United  States  marine  hospital  service  and  was  stationed  at  St. 
Louis  for  one  year,  at  New  York  city  for  two  years,  and  had  charge 
of  the  service  at  Pittsburg  for  three  years,  until  April,  1902,  when 
he  resigned  from  the  service  and  since  has  been  engaged  in 
practice  in  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Craig  resides  in  the  East  End,  has 
offices  at  No.  414  Smith  block,  and  has  met  with  much  success  in 
his  practice.  He  attended  a  post-graduate  in  general  surgery  at 
the  New  York  polyclinic  in  1899-1900  and  keeps  well  posted  on  the 
advances  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Craig  was  partly  instrumental  in 
getting   an  appropriation  of  $125,000  for  a  marine  hospital,  which 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  327 

is  now  being  constructed  on  the  United  States  arsenal  grounds. 
He  had  charge  of  the  marine  staff  of  Mercy  hospital  for  some  time, 
is  medical  examiner  for  a  number  of  life  insurance  companies,  and 
for  the  United  States  marine  corps,  U.  S.  N.,  is  a  member  of  the 
Allegheny  county  medical  society,  the  Phi  Delta  Gamma  fraternity 
and  the  alumni  of  the  University  of  Virginia. 

^^^^^^  JOHN  T.  BROWN,  vice-president  and 

^^^^H^^^^^  general  manager  of  the  Damascus  bronze 

^^Hj^^^P^^^k        company,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  has  been  con- 
^^^^t.  1^^^      nected  with  the  railroad  and  manufactur- 

^^^^HPUP  *^^^^  ing  interests  of  the  country  ever  since  he 
^^^H^^^  :>^^^B  ^^g  ^gj^  ^rears  of  age.  He  was  born  in  the 
^^^^^|PH|  '^^^H  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  April  17,  1845. 
^^^^^H^^^^^^^V  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  Jane 
^^^m^^Sk^^^^K  Brown,  both  descendants  of  Revolution- 
^^^^^^wK^^^m  ary  heroes.  His  father  died  in  1882  in 
^B      ^^^^^W  his   eighty-eighth  year,  and   his   mother 

^    ^^^^^  in    1868.     John    T.    Brown    attended  the 

Philadelphia  public  schools  until  he  was 
about  ten  years  old,  when  he  obtained  a  position  as  core  boy  in  the 
Richards  &  Norris  locomotive  works.  He  remained  in  the  works 
until  1863,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  H,  196th  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  but  after  serving  six 
months  was  discharged  on  account  of  ill  health.  For  the  next  nine 
years  he  was  with  the  Hook  smelting  company,  and  six  years  after 
with  the  Baltimore  locomotive  works,  being  foreman  in  the  latter 
concern.  He  was  then  with  the  Paul  S.  Reese  tubal  smelting  com- 
pany for  eight  years  as  superintendent.  In  1886  he  started  the 
Crown  smelting  company,  of  which  he  was  general  manager  and 
which  had  at  that  time  one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  works  of 
its  kind  in  the  United  States.  In  1893  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Pitts- 
burg and  assumed  the  management  of  the  Damascus  bronze  com- 
pany as  vice-president,  general  manager  and  part  owner.  This 
concern  does  the  largest  business  of  any  in  the  country,  its  lead- 
ing products  being  phosphorized  copper  and  the  celebrated  Damas- 
cus nickel  bronze,  which  was  invented  by  Mr.  Brown  in  1897  and 
which  is  now  widely  used  by  railroad  companies  on  their  locomo- 
tives. In  1867  he  was  married  to  Miss  Almira  L.  Weaver,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  five  children  have  come  to  bless  their  union :  Loretta, 
Linda,  Raymond,  Deborah  and  John,  Jr.  Mrs.  Brown  is  a  highly 
estimable  lady,   a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  girls'  high  school, 


328  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and  her  parents,  like  those  of  her  husband,  were  descended  from 
Revolutionary  stock.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  Duquesne  post, 
No.  259,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  Pittsburg,  and  of  the 
various  mechanical  organizations.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican 
and  takes  an  active  and  intelligent  part  in  the  political  affairs  of 
the  ward  where  he  resides. 

PROF.  SYLVESTER  STOTLERwas 
born  on  the  farm,  twelve  miles  east  of 
Fort  Pitt,  in  what  is  now  Penn  township, 
on  the  land  first  settled  by  his  grand- 
father, Rudolph  Stotler,  who  came  from 
Lancaster  county  at  a  very  early  age. 
Rudolph  Stotler,  a  Revolutionary  war 
veteran,  was  of  Holland  Dutch  descent, 
born  in  1750  in  Lancaster  county,  and 
was  twice  married,  being  the  father  of 
five  children  by  his  first  wife,  and  eleven 
by  Frances  Stotler,  his  second.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  in  1825, 
and  is  buried  in  Mt.  Hope  cemetery,  Penn  township,  where  his 
v^iife,  Frances,  is  also  buried,  having  lived  thirty-one  years  after 
her  husband's  death.  Professor  Stotler  is  the  son  of  Emanuel 
Stotler,  who  was  born  in  1815  on  the  Stotler  farm.  Mr.  Stotler 
remained  at  home,  clearing  land  on  the  old  farm,  built  a  log  house, 
and,  in  1843,  married  Barbara  Stoner,  daughter  of  Christian  Stoner, 
who  had  also  come  from  Lancaster  county  to  Allegheny  county. 
Barbara  was  one  of  six  children  who  married  and  settled  in  the 
county.  She  still  lives  on  the  old  farm,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two, 
active  and  in  excellent  health.  The  parents  lived  on  this  farm, 
which  they  had  reclaimed  from  the  forest,  and  raised  a  family  of 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Sylvester,  Nancy  A., 
Elizabeth,  Leah  and  Frances  (twins).  Perry,  Rudolph,  John  and 
Alice,  John  lives  in  California;  Frances  Gillooly,  in  Kansas; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Shepard,  died  in  1885;  Leah  resides 
at  the  old  homestead;  Perry,  married,  and  living  in  Kansas,  died 
suddenly;  Rudolph  died  on  the  farm,  and  Alice  when  a  child. 
Sylvester  Stotler  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  town- 
ship, and  while  yet  in  school,  was  elected  to  teach  in  the  Adams 
district,  which  he  did  for  five  years.  The  sixth  year  he  was  elected 
superintendent  of  schools  of  Reserve  township,  where  he  remained 
sixteen  years,  resigning  to  accept  the  position  of  principal  of  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  329 

thirteenth  ward  school  of  Allegheny  city,  a  position  he  has  held 
for  eighteen  years.  Under  his  management  the  school  has  built 
up  from  a  corps  of  three  teachers  to  seventeen,  and  in  standard  of 
work  is  as  high  as  any  in  the  city.  Professor  Stotler  has  the  envi- 
able record  of  having  taught  school  for  forty  years  consecutively, 
taking  his  vacations  only  in  summer,  ready  for  work  again  each 
fall.  He  has  had  many  opportunities  of  bettering  his  position  and 
receiving  higher  salary,  but  has  steadfastly  declined  all  induce- 
ments, preferring  to  remain  where  his  work  has  been  appreciated 
and  so  remarkably  successful.  This  school  is  his  pride,  many  of 
the  pupils  now  in  attendance  being  the  children  of  former  pupils. 
Mr.  Stotler's  success  is  due  to  his  keen  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  to  his  deep  sympathy  and  sincere  interest  in  the  lives  of 
parent,  teacher  and  pupil,  to  his  kindly  nature,  endearing  him  to 
all.  The  facilities  Mr.  Stotler  found  for  his  education  were  very 
poor,  while  those  of  his  parents  were  still  poorer.  He  often  tells 
of  the  experience  he  has  heard  his  father  relate  of  the  log  school- 
house  with  no  floor,  oiled  paper  for  windows,  smooth  blocks  placed 
on  the  lap  in  place  of  desks,  and  the  open  fire  at  one  side  of  the 
room,  the  smoke  escaping  through  the  mud  and  stick  chimney 
built  on  the  outside  of  the  house.  Even  in  Mr.  Stotler's  day, 
quills  were  used  for  pens,  and  indigo  used  for  ink.  Professor 
Stotler's  parents  belonged  to  the  Baptist  church  of  their  township, 
that  being  the  only  church  near,  though  they  were  doubtless  of 
Lutheran  stock.  Professor  Stotler's  love  for  children  caused  him 
to  choose  teaching  as  his  life-work.  He  is  opposed  to  corporal 
punishment  as  a  rule,  but  believes  in  appealing  to  the  reason  and 
honor  of  the  children,  who  come  to  him  unhesitatingly  with  their 
troubles,  knowing  that  their  grievances  will  be  righted.  The 
thirteenth  ward  school  stands  unique  in  one  particular,  in  that  no 
corporal  punishment  is  inflicted  by  teachers  or  principal,  though 
the  rules  of  the  board  do  not  prohibit  it,  and  yet  no  school  is  better 
governed,  or  under  better  control.  Professor  Stotler's  influence  is 
great,  and  his  example  is  a  very  powerful  factor  in  the  life  of  the 
ward.  His  long  service  in  this  school  and  his  strong  hold  on  the 
people  are  sufficient  proof  of  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held.  The  thirteenth  ward  public  school  is  his  greatest  monu- 
ment, and  the  record  of  his  work  there  constitutes  the  noblest 
lesson  of  his  life.  Professor  Stotler  is  a  Presbyterian;  he  joined 
the  Millvale  church  in  1875,  and  the  Pittsburg  church  in  1879.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  celebrated  physical  and  health  club  known  as 
the    Ralston   club,    with   extensive    headquarters    in   Washington, 


330  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

D.  C.  He  is  an  ardent  advocate  of  careful  attention  to  health  as 
affected  by  diet,  habits  and  the  like,  and  uses  no  tobacco,  intoxi- 
cants or  other  injurious  things,  thus  doing  as  so  few  in  this  world 
do — practices  as  he  preaches. 

®  JAMES  W.  SHIELDS,  president  of 
the  Osceola  coal  company,  at  Emblem, 
Pa.,  is  one  of  the  best-known  and  most 
successful  coal  operators  in  what  is  known 


as  the  Pittsburg  district.  He  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Margaret  (Walker)  Shields, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Lanarkshire, 
near  Coatbridge,  Scotland,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1848,  settling  in  Pottsville, 
Luzerne  county.  Within  a  year  they 
moved  to  Elizabeth,  on  the  Monongahela 
river,  where  James  W.  was  born  on  Dec. 
25,  1851.  Before  he  was  a  year  old,  the 
family  moved  to  Greenock,  on  the  Youghiogheny  river,  where 
they  lived  until  the  death  of  the  father  and  mother,  the  former  in 
1884,  the  latter  in  1897.  The  father  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  coal-miner  until  ten  years  prior  to  his  death,  when  he  became 
interested  as  an  operator.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  and 
much  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  James  W.  was  the  fourth 
of  a  family  of  ten  children — five  boys  and  five  girls — of  whom  four 
sisters  and  one  brother  are  still  living.  James  W.  attended  the 
village  school  until  the  age  of  eleven,  when  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  go  to  the  mines  to  earn  something  toward  the  support 
of  the  family.  He  studied  as  opportunity  offered,  but,  as  he  aptly 
puts  it,  "the  best  part  of  my  education  was  acquired  in  the  hard 
school  of  experience,"  and,  therefore,  he  has  not  forgotten  what  he 
learned.  He  tended  trap-door  at  fifty  cents  a  day,  drove  a  mule 
and  mined  coal  until  he  was  twenty-one,  when  he  went  to  Kansas 
and  tried  the  life  of  a  farmer  for  a  time.  This  not  coming  up  to 
his  expectations,  Mr.  Shields  went  to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  mining 
coal,  and  then  tried  the  same  occupation  in  Missouri.  His  next 
move  was  railroading,  then  mining  again  in  Maryland,  Indiana 
and  Kentucky,  and  after  fourteen  years'  absence,  took  charge  of 
the  Osceola  mines  as  superintendent  and  manager,  in  which 
capacity  he  acted  for  three  years.  Mr.  Shields  then  made  his  first 
venture  as  an  operator  by  purchasing,  in  1885,  a  half  interest  in 
what  was  known  as  the  Republic  coal  company,  at  Sewickley.     In 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  331 

1889  he  purchased  the  present  mines  at  Osceola,  where  his  first 
day's  work  was  performed.  These  mines  were  opened  in  1840,  and 
were  the  first  in  the  Youghiogheny  region.  Mr.  Shields'  thorough 
knowledge  of  mining  has  been  gained  by  actual  experience,  for  he 
has  filled  every  position  about  the  mines  from  trap-door  boy  to 
general  manager.  These  pioneer  mines  are  still  operated,  and,  as 
they  are  managed  by  progressive  men,  are  supplied  with  the  latest 
and  most  approved  electric  and  mechanical  devices  for  mining  and 
handling  coal.  The  mines  are  located  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
railroad,  at  Emblem  station,  on  the  Youghiogheny  river,  where 
more  than  200  miners  are  employed,  and  the  daily  output  is  about 
1,200  tons  of  coal.  This  coal  is  shipped  to  New  York,  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore,  east,  and  to  all  points  reached  by  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  railroad  system  in  the  west.  A  great  deal  of  the  success  of 
the  company  is  due  to  the  energy  and  ability  of  the  president,  Mr. 
Shields,  who  knows  the  mining  business  so  well  that  he  is  quick 
to  grasp  situations  as  they  arise,  and  to  take  advantage  of  oppor- 
tunities in  many  ways  that  a  less  experienced  man  would  be  unable 
to  see.  He  was  the  first  operator  in  the  Pittsburg  district  to  con- 
cede the  semi-monthly  pay.  He  also  served  five  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  old  board  of  arbitration  and  conciliation,  and  he  has 
always  been  among  the  foremost  in  the  State  in  movements 
designed  for  the  betterment  of  the  miners  in  particular,  and  the 
working  classes  in  general.  In  movements  of  this  kind  he  has 
been  a  tireless  worker  for  fifteen  years.  Besides  his  interests  in 
the  coal  mines,  Mr.  Shields  is  also  interested  in  several  other  lines, 
such  as  gas  companies  and  banking  institutions.  He  is  a  director 
in  the  United  States  banking  concern,  and  has  a  high  standing  in 
financial  circles  of  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  On  Dec.  17,  1875,  Mr. 
Shields  led  to  the  altar  Mary  A.  Wray,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and 
a  daughter  of  James  M.  and  Mahala  C.  (Sherrill)  Wray.  Four 
children  came  to  brighten  their  home:  Ida  B.,  now  the  wife 
of  Irwin  M.  Fickeison,  of  the  Whitney  &  Stephenson  company; 
Lillian  B.,  Thomas  G.  (deceased),  and  Marguerite.  The  family 
have  been  republican  in  their  politics,  and  Methodist  in  their 
religion.  Mr.  Shields  became  a  member  of  the  Unity  lodge. 
No.  344,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Perrysville,  Ind.,  in  1875,  and 
retained  his  membership  there  until  June  27,  1892,  when  he 
became  a  charter  member  of  Blyth  lodge.  No.  593,  of  West 
Newton,  Pa. 


332  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  F.  SHROYER,  insurance 
agent  and  dealer  in  real  estate  and  mort- 
gage loans,  at  Wiikinsburg,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Garrett  county,  ]\Id.,  in  1866.  In  1894 
he  came  to  Wiikinsburg  and  established 
his  present  business,  in  which  he  has  a 
large  patronage,  due  to  his  business  enter- 
prise, his  genial  disposition,  square  dealing 
and  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  differ- 
ent lines  in  which  he  is  engaged.  In  con- 
nection with  his  business  he  has  traveled 
extensively,  though  never  in  the  capacity 
of  a  salesman.  He  was  married,  in  1890,  to 
Redena  A.  Andtr^on,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Anderson,  of 
Ursina,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  son,  named  Wilber  R.  F.  Shroyer. 
His  wife's  father  is  the  leading  blacksmith  of  Ursina.  Mr.  Shroyer 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  several  fra- 
ternal orders.  He  is  a  member  of  Wiikinsburg  lodge.  No.  384, 
Knights  of  Pythias;  W.  H,  Devore  lodge,  No.  676,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Encampment  No.  280,  of  the  same 
order.  His  residence  and  office  are  in  tlie  second  ward  of  the  city, 
and  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  everything  that  has  a  tendency 
to  promote  the  general  welfare  or  the  prosperity  of  the  community. 
In  political  matters  he  affiliates  with  the  republican  party,  but  he 
has  neither  held  public  office  nor  been  a  candidate  for  it. 

JOHN  YULE  STRANG,  of  Whitaker, 
Pa.,  a  successful  contractor  and  builder, 
was  born  at  Town  Hill,  Fifeshire,  Scot- 
land, Jan.  15,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
•  ^l^"^  ^  C^^^  and  Janet  (Yule)  Strang,  who  came  to 
-.-_  I^B     America  in  1S79.     They  located  at  Eliza- 

beth, Allegheny  county,  where  the  father 
was  employed  in  the  mines,  and,  in  1886. 
removed  to  Mifflin  township,  where  he 
has  since  been  employed  in  the  Munhall 
mines.  He  is  the  father  of  nine  children, 
viz.:  Janet,  wife  of  Charles  Eckels; 
Christiana,  wife,  of  Francis  A.  Taylor; 
John  Y.,  William  G.,  Robert,  Maggie,  Bessie,  James  and 
Alexander.  John  Y.  Strang  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county  from 
his  sixth  year,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  when  twelve 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


333 


years  of  age  began  his  business  career  as  a  coal-miner,  which  occu- 
pation he  successfully  followed  for  thirteen  years.  At  odd  times 
Mr.  Strang  had  learned  the  carpenters'  trade,  and  since  1899  has 
been  engaged  in  building  and  contracting,  residing  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship since  1886,  and  at  Whitaker  since  1901,  Mr.  Strang  was  mar- 
ried, on  Dec.  24,  1896,  to  Lizzie,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Jackson)  McGough,  of  St.  Clair  township,  and  they  have  three 
children,  viz. :  William  R.,  John  Raymond  and  Sadie  Leona.  Mr. 
Strang  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Maccabees,  Knights  of  Malta 
and  the  Odd  Fellows.  His  political  affiliations  are  with  the 
republican  party. 


GUSTAVUS  J.  LIGHTENHELD,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  and  well- 
known  lawyer,  with  offices  at  No.  510 
Fourth  Ave.,  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  26,  1852,  son  of  George  N.  and 
Anna  (Mueller)  Lightenheld,  both  na- 
tives of  Germany,  and  his  mother  now 
residing  in  Allegheny  city.  Mr.  Lighten- 
held attended  the  fourth  ward  public 
school  of  Allegheny  city,  and,  in  1869, 
became  a  private  in  Company  C,  the- 
"Duquesne  Grays,"  a  prominent  military 
organization.  In  1870  he  matriculated  at 
the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1873  visited  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  with  his  command,  and  on  his  return  was  appointed 
assistant  regimental  instructor  of  the  college  cadets,  which  com- 
mission he  held  until  his  graduation  in  1874.  Mr.  Lightenheld 
then  entered  the  office  of  A.  B.  Hay,  a  prominent  practitioner  of 
law,  and  there  prosecuted  his  studies  until  1876,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  on  May  13th,  and  for  twenty-seven  years  has 
been  continuously  in  the  practice  at  Pittsburg.  He  has  made  a 
magnificent  record  in  both  the  criminal  and  the  civil  courts,  con- 
trols a  fine  business,  and  is  a  member  of  courts  in  Pennsylvania 
and  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  Mr.  Lightenheld  is  prominently 
identified  with  a  number  of  leading  organizations,  being  a  past 
officer  of  the  "Duquesne  Grays"  veteran  corps,  member  and  past 
officer  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  past 
officer  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  past  officer  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  past  officer  of  the  Red  Men.  and  a  member  of 
the  Germania  Liederkranze.     He  was  married  in  Allegheny  city 


334  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

by  the  Reverend  Hay  to  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Jacob  Pack,  and  they 
have  had  five  children,  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Ida,  wife  of 
Philip  J.  Reitmeyer.  Mr.  Lightenheld  resides  in  the  thirty-sixth 
ward  of  Pittsburg,  and  is  prominent  throughout  the  city. 

GEORGE  B.  FORSYTHE,  a  retired 
farmer  living  on  a  ninety-acre  farm  near 
Carnegie,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Nov.  24,  1836.  His  mother, 
Margaret  (Henry)  Forsythe,  was  of  Irish 
jBI^s^W'  birth,  her  father  coming  to  Pennsjdvania 

JHhh|b  in    1760,    while   his   father,  George  For- 

^H^^P^L^  sythe,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent 

■^^K^^^^K^^'       farmer  in  Washington  county,  and  later 
^^^^P^^H|V^        in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  near  Mt.  Vernon, 
^^^^^mBKw  where   he  bought  a  farm  of  250  acres, 

^^^^^^  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  which 

occurred  about  1852.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  Scotchman,  who  settled  in  Mifflin  township  in 
1 755,  where  many  of  his  descendants  yet  live.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Forsythe  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs. 
Forsythe  lived  with  her  son,  George  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
for  many  years,  and  later  went  to  live  with  another  son,  Calvin,  in 
Kansa"s,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Forsythe  had  ten  children,  viz. :  Harriet,  afterwards  Mrs. 
Miliinger;  Henry,  who  served  four  years  in  the  Civil  war;  James,  a 
Presbyterian  minister;  Margaret,  who  married  Joseph  Ryburn; 
Joseph,  a  doctor  who  practiced  and  died  in  Salem,  N.  Y. ,  in  1855; 
George  B.  ;  Susan,  who  married  Judge  Glenn,  of  Colorado;  Robert, 
a  twin  brother  of  George  B. ;  Sarah  and  Calvin,  the  latter  also  serv- 
ing in  the  Civil  war.  Of  these,  Henry,  George  B.,  Margaret  and 
Sarah  are  living.  George  B.  Forsythe  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  had  started  advanced  studies  at  Wilmington,  when  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  called  him  from  his  books  to  fight  for  his 
country.  Enlisting  on  Aug.  27,  1861,  in  Company  B,  looth  Penn- 
sylvania volunteer  infantry,  he  served  first  in  Sherman's  army, 
then  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then  in  Grant's  army,  and  then 
again  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  During  the  war  he  fought 
with  distinction  in  many  engagements:  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  at  Chantilly,  South  Mountain,  Md. ;  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Blue  Springs,  Tenn. ; 
Campbell  Station,  Tenn.  ;  the  siege  of  Knoxville,    Tenn. ;  in  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  335 

Wilderness  (two  days),  and  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.  At  Spottsyl- 
vania,  on  May  7,  1864,  a  rebel  bullet  struck  him  in  the  hip,  inflict- 
ing an  injury  from  which  he  has  never  fully  recovered.  This 
injury  incapacitated  him  for  further  fighting,  and  after  many 
months  in  hospitals  at  Fredericksburg,  Washington  city  and  Staten 
island,  he  was  given  a  furlough,  and  went  to  visit  his  brothers  in 
New  York.  Returning  to  his  regiment,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, after  a  service  of  almost  four  years.  His  war  service 
over,  Mr.  Forsythe  took  up  farming  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa. 
Since  1884  he  has  resided  on  a  valuable  farm  of  ninety  acres,  lying 
near  Carnegie.  On  Sept.  26,  1866,  Mr.  Forsythe  married  Miss 
Margaret  Henry,  daughter  of  William  Henry,  and  has  by  this  mar- 
riage two  children  living.  Cora  is  now  the  wife  of  Harry  Walk,  a 
farmer  of  Allegheny  county,  and  has  seven  children,  and 
George  H.,  who  resides  near  Newbern,  N.  C,  married  Ettie 
Young,  of  Bloomington,  111,  and  has  two  children.  The  first  wife 
died  in  December,  1897,  and  Mr.  Forsythe  married  Miss  Lettie 
Weller,  a  native  of  Montgomery,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  One  child, 
Joseph  W.,  has  been  born  of  this  second  union.  Mr.  Forsythe  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Forsythe  has  been  for  many  years  an  elder.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Loyal  Legion  post,  No.  i,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

WM.  VALLANDINGHAM  NOBLE, 
of  Homestead,  Pa.,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Mifflin  township,  was  born  near  Steu- 
benville,  Ohio,  Dec.  5,  1866,  son  of  Tarle- 

ton  W.  and    Sarah    (Lewis)    Noble,    the 

^^^  -^  ^  ^ft^  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  now  residing 

\  jS^^^W  in  Ritchie  county,  W.  Va. ,  and  the  mother 

Ij^^^Mk^B^lL  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  member  of  a 

^^^^^^■|i|^^^^       distinguished  family  of  the  Old  Domin- 

^^^^^H^^^^^v        ion.     William    V.   Noble   was    reared   in 

^^^^^^^^^^T  Ohio   and  West    Virginia,  and  was   edu- 

^^^/^^^^^  cated   in    the   public    schools,    the   West 

Liberty    State    normal    school    of   West 

Virginia,  and  the  Illinois  normal  school,  near  Bloomington.     Since 

his  twentieth  year,  Mr.  Noble  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics, 

voting   on  national  issues  with  the  democratic  party,  but  in  local 

matters  believes  in  casting  his  ballot  for  the  best  man  regardless 

of  creed  or  political  associations.      He  has  been  closely  identified 

with  the  democratic  citizens'  party  of  Allegheny  county  since  1902. 


336  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Mr.  Noble  was  engaged  in  various  occupations  in  Illinois,  Ohio, 
West  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and  since  1897  has  been  perma- 
nently located  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he  follows  farming, 
gardening,  contracting,  buying  and  selling  produce,  and  coal-min- 
ing. He  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the  business  interests  of  the 
township,  and  ranks  high  in  financial,  political  and  social  circles. 
He  was  married  to  Mary  Alice,  daughter  of  William  and  Frances 
(Hague)  Bowden,  formerly  of  England,  but  now  of  Mifflin  town- 
ship, and  the  home  life  of  Mr.  Noble  is  a  happy  one.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, the  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Order  of  Americus. 

^^^^^^  J.  B.  MARTIN,  an  esteemed  and  well- 

^^^^^HfH^^  to-do   citizen   of   Tarentum,    is   living   a 

J^^^^^m"  ^^^k        retired  life  in  a  comfortable  home  after 
;^^^^^^^t|^^^      a   strenuous   and   successful   career  as  a 
^^^^^Kw^^^     mechanic.      He  is  of  Scottish  blood  on 
^^^^■HL    ^^m     both  sides  of  the  house,  and  can  boast  of 
^^^^Hp^^H     a  sturdy  and  patriotic  ancestry  who.  ful- 
^^^^^^^^^M     filled  all  the  duties  of   good   citizenship 
^^^^^^^>^^^»      during  their  quiet,  but  useful  lives.     His 
'^^^^^^K^MM^^W        grandparents   were    John    and    Barbara 
^^^^^^Hk  ^^  (Forester)  Martin,  who  came  from  Scot- 

^^^^^^^^  land  many  years  ago  and  located  in  Alle- 

gheny county  when  its  population  was 
comparatively  sparse.  They  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  passed  peacefully  away  after  reaching 
more  than  the  allotted  years  of  three  score  and  ten.  Peter  Martin, 
one  of  their  sons,  accompanied  his  parents  from  the  old  country 
when  a  young  man,  and  subsequently  became  a  farmer  in  Fawn 
township.  He  married  Jenette,  daughter  of  James  Blackstock, 
who  came  from  Scotland  to  Butler  county,  Pa.,  at  an  early  day, 
and  spent  his  last  days  in  that  part  of  the  State.  Peter  Martin 
died  in  1859,  and  his  wife  in  1888.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living.  The  Martins  were 
republicans  in  politics,  and  the  father,  who  was  well-to-do, 
contributed  liberally  of  his  money  to  assist  the  soldiers  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  did  all  he  could  to  aid  the  country  in  its 
great  struggle  for  existence.  J.  B.  Martin,  one  of  the  seven 
surviving  children  was  born  in  Fawn  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  July  27,  185 1.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
attended  the  common   schools  at  intervals  as  he  grew  to  man's 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  337 

estate.  When  sixteen  years  old,  he  entered  a  blacksmith's  shop 
with  a  view  of  perfecting  himself  in  that  line  of  business,  and 
eventually  became  a  journeyman  blacksmith  of  superior  qualifica- 
tions. He  worked  for  wages  at  various  places  in  Allegheny 
county,  but  finally  went  into  business  for  himself  in  Fawn  town- 
ship. In  1888  he  came  to  Tarentum  and  continued  in  his  chosen 
occupation  at  that  point  until  1901,  when  he  sold  his  business,  and 
has  since  lived  in  retirement,  in  his  handsome  and  commodious 
residence  on  East  Ninth  avenue.  His  political  affiliations  have 
always  been  with  the  republican  party,  and  he  served  in  the  council 
three  years.  In  1879  Mr.  Martin  married  Miss  Lida  A.  Smith,  of 
Fawn  township,  who  died  May  18,  1892,  leaving  three  children, 
Grace,  Roy  and  Verna.  In  1896  Mr.  Martin  married  Miss  Cora, 
daughter  of  James  S.  Christa,  a  prominent  farmer  of  East  Deer 
township.  The  second  wife  died  Aug.  26,  1896.  Mr.  Martin  has 
been  a  stockholder  in  the  People's  National  bank  since  its  organi- 
zation, is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  stands 
high  in  the  community  as  an  exemplary  citizen. 


WILLIAM  G.  FAWCETT,  of  McKees- 
port,  Pa.,  prominently  identified  with 
the  brick-making  industry  of  that  city, 
was  born  on  Aug.  24,  185 1,  in  South 
Side,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  son  of  William  and 


'^^     Margaret  (Robinson)  Fawcett,  his  father 


^^^HH^^  I^^H     l^^ving  been  street  commissioner  of  Pitts- 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m      burg  for  many  years,  and  later  a  promi- 
^^^^^^■Qpi^^^V      nent  coal  merchant.     The  elder  Fawcett 
^^^^H^^^  at^M        brought  the  first  tow-boat  up  the  Monon- 
^^^^^■■H^^  gahela  river,    and   was  closely  identified 

^^^^^^^^^  with  the  business  interests  of  the  county 

until  his  death  in  1884.  Mr.  Fawcett 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Allegheny  county,  his  first 
work  being  that  of  a  farmer  on  the  land  owned  by  his  father  in 
Versailles  township.  In  1893  he  and  his  brothers  began  making 
brick  at  McKeesport,  and  since  that  time  have  successfully  con- 
tinued that  business,  now  being  among  the  leading  manufacturers 
in  that  line  in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  was  also  associated  with 
his  brother  in  the  drug  business  for  a  number  of  years,  and  has 
been  interested  in  the  commercial  and  financial  growth  of  the  town 
in  several  ways.  He  was  married,  in  1885,  to  Alice,  daughter  of 
William  and  Eliza  Sittman,  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  and  they 
1—22 


338  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

have  five  children,  viz. :  Wilbert,  Eliza,  John,  Margaret  and  Glenn, 
all  except  the  eldest  attending  the  local  schools.  Mr.  Fawcett  is  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  of  the  republican  party,  and  has 
served  in  the  council  of  McKeesport,  and  as  secretary  of  the  board 
of  school  controllers  of  Versailles  township.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  is  identified  with  its  works  of  charity 
and  benevolence. 

PROF.  JOHN  MORROW,  superin- 
tendent of  schools  of  Allegheny  city,  was 
born  at  Midwa)',  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Eleanor 
Morrow,  late  of  North  Fa3^ette  township. 
He  attended  the  common  schools,  Paris 
academy  of  Washington  county,  later  the 
academy  at  Mansfield  (now  Carnegie), 
and  the  State  normal  school  at  Millers- 
ville,  where  he  graduated  in  1865.  After 
graduation  he  took  charge  of  the  Fallston 
graded  schools,  in  Beaver  county,  and 
then  of  the  Shady  Side  school,  in  the  East 
End,  Pittsburg.  Later  he  succeeded  Josiah  (later  Judge)  Cohen  in 
charge  of  the  Hebrew  school  on  Hancock  street,  then  became  prin- 
cipal of  the  South  Pittsburg  school  until  1868,  Professor  Morrow 
was  next  chosen  principal  of  the  fourth  ward  schools  of  Allegheny 
city,  where  he  remained  fourteen  years,  until  elected  to  succeed 
the  well-known  educator.  Prof.  L.  H.  Durling,  as  superintendent 
of  the  Allegheny  schools,  a  position  he  has  acceptably  filled  to  the 
present  time.  He  has  filled  many  positions  in  educational  circles, 
among  them  that  of  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  educational 
association,  of  which  body  he  has  also  been  treasurer  for  many 
years.  Professor  Morrow  took  an  active  part  in  the  Civil 
war,  enlisting  from  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  162,  of  Allegheny.  He  was  married,  in  1898, 
to  Mrs.  S.  R.  Morrow,  daughter  of  William  and  Allatha  Gilchrist, 
late  of  Keene,  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio.  Professor  Morrow  is  a  man 
of  easy  and  natural  manners,  not  difficult  to  approach,  and  pos- 
sesses a  keen  appreciation  of  the  humorous.  His  principal  char- 
acteristic is  his  hard-headed,  common-sense  view  of  practical 
questions.  Professor  Morrow  is  a  splendid  example  of  the  Scotch- 
Irish  character,  combining  the  sensitiveness  and  tenderness  of  the 
Irish  with  the  cold,  practical,  hard-headed  intellect  of  the  Scotch, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  339 

As  an  instructor,  he  is  inimitable;  as  a  superintendent,  he  stands 
unexcelled.  He  is  the  embodiment  of  moral  power,  intellectual 
force,  and  keen  insight  into  men  and  events,  and  into  the  motives 
.and  principles  which  govern  them.  The  teachers,  in  whom  he 
takes  a  fatherly  interest,  and,  in  fact,  all  who  know  him,  admire 
him  as  a  man  and  a  citizen. 

-"-■    i  JOSEPH   STEWART,  of  the   Ulrich- 

Stewart  manufacturing  company,  of  Alle- 
gheny, Pa.,  was  born  in  Coleraine, 
County  Derry,  Ireland,  March  21,  185 1, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary  Ann 
(Wray)  Stewart,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  that  county.  The  father  was 
born  in  1823,  and  died  in  1891.  His 
whole  life  was  passed  as  a  farmer,  and  he 
was  a  fane  specimen  of  the  better  class 
of  the  Irish  peasantry.  The  mother  was 
born  May  2,  1824,  and  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead  near  Coleraine,  She 
is  a  niece  of  Dr.  Robert  Wray,  who  came  to  Pittsburg  at  an  early 
date,  and  who  in  his  day  was  a  very  prominent  physician.  Joseph 
Stewart  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  the  age  of  maturity,  the  others  being  Mary,  who  married 
Abraham  Bodys;  Jane  W.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Likin; 
Hugh  R.,  now  practicing  law  in  the  city  of  Chicago;  Thomas  C, 
connected  for  a  number  of  years  with  the  Westinghouse  air  brake 
company;  Matilda  M. ,  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  J.  Keith;  John  W., 
living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ireland;  Samuel  M.,  of  Cincinnati, 
connected  with  a  large  manufacturing  company;  Robert  W.,  a 
prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Pittsburg,  and  Annie  K.,  still 
at  home.  The  two  eldest  daughters  are  deceased,  but  the  others 
are  now  living.  During  his  boyhood,  Joseph  attended  the  public 
schools  in  his  native  town,  and  in  1868  came  to  America.  He 
located  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  machinist,  and 
in  1871  took  up  his  residence  in  the  first  ward  of  Allegheny  city, 
becoming  at  that  time  connected  with  the  Pittsburg  locomotive 
works.  He  remained  with  this  concern  until  January,  1903,  when 
he  resigned  to  attend  the  session  of  the  State  legislature,  to  which 
he  had  been  elected  at  the  preceding  election.  On  June  i,  1903, 
he  became  a  member  of  his  present  firm,  which  manufactures  a 
full  line  of  gas  and  steam  engines,  all  sorts  of  pulleys,  hangers,  etc., 


340  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

does  high-pressure  steam-fitting,  and  makes  all  kinds  of  heating 
and  ventilating  appliances.  Mr.  Stewart  has  always  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  questions  of  a  public  nature,  and  is  a  firm  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  republican  party.  In  1895  ^e  was  elected  to 
the  common  council  from  the  first  ward  of  Allegheny  city.  His 
record  there  was  approved  by  a  re-election  in  1897,  and  two  years 
later  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  ward  in  the  select  council. 
This  position  he  resigned  in  November,  1902,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  legislature,  as  already  stated.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ninth 
United  Presbyterian  church  of  Allegheny,  and  is  one  of  the 
trustees.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  B.  P.  O.  Elks 
and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

JOHN  OMSLAER,  member  of  the 
select  council  from  the  eighth  ward  of 
Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  was  born  in  the 
fourth  ward  of  that  city  in  1856.  His 
parents  were  Henry  and  Sarah  Omslaer, 
both  of  whom  died  in  the  year  1894. 
When  John  was  about  six  years  old,  the 
family  removed  to  Duquesne  borough, 
which  later  became  the  eighth  ward  of 
the  city.  There  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  then  he  took  a  course  at  Newell's 
institute  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  fin- 
ished his  education  at  the  Iron  City  col- 
lege. After  spending  about  a  year  in  the  pine  regions  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  came  back  to  Allegheny  city  and  went  to  work 
in  the  river  lumber  trade.  He  followed  this  business  until  1882, 
when  he  went  into  the  city  treasurer's  office  and  served  three  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  went  back  to  the  river,  and  for 
some  time  was  connected  in  various  capacities  with  steamboat  nav- 
igation. In  1880  he  was  married  to  Miss  Katherine  Stenker,  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  they  have  four  daughters:  Susan,  May, 
Katherine  and  Sarah.  Mr.  Omslaer  is  a  solid  republican,  and 
never  hesitates  to  declare  his  political  opinions.  In  1900  he  was 
elected  as  the  eighth  ward  member  of  the  school  board,  serving 
two  years.  He  was  then  chosen  to  represent  the  ward  in  the 
select  council  for  a  term  of  four  years.  In  the  council  he  is  the 
chairman  of  the  water  committee,  and  a  member  of  the  finance 
and  survey  committees.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian  church;   Allegheny   lodge.    No.  145,  Independent   Order   of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  341 

American  Mechanics,  and  the  Pride  of  the  West  council.  As  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  and  in  his  dealings  with  men,  he  is 
distinguished  for  his  sturdy  character  and  strict  adherence  to 
principle. 

ANDREW  J.  MALARKEY,  a  long- 
time resident  of  Tarentum,  has  had  a 
varied  and  successful  career  as  a  Union 
soldier,  driller  for  oil  railroads,  and  brick 
manufacturer.  His  ancestry,  both  on 
the  side  of  father  and  mother,  has  been 
identified  with  Pennsylvania  from  the 
days  when  that  State  was  the  frontier 
and  the  scene  of  those  bloody  border  wars 
which  figure  so  largely  in  history.  His 
father,  Henry  Malarkey,  was  born  in 
Butler  county  in  1791,  and  his  mother, 
Elizabeth  (Wolf)  Malarkey,  at  Allegheny 
city  in  1801.  Daniel  Malarkey,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  born  in  1765,  and  married  a  Miss  Margaret  Hines,  of 
Germany,  born  in  1764,  and  died  July  8,  1848.  He  came  to  Butler 
county  in  boyhood,  and  later  engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation 
he  pursued  until  his  death,  Oct.  10,  1846.  His  son,  Henry,  father 
of  our  subject,  went  to  Swissvale  in  1864,  afterwards  to  Tarentum, 
and,  in  1872,  removed  to  Missouri.  A  year  later  he  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  at  St.  Petersburg,  Nov.  11,  1873,  his  wife 
surviving  until  1900.  The  latter's  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland, 
and  became  early  settlers  of  Armstrong  and  Westmoreland 
counties.  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Malarkey  had  nine  children — six 
sons  and  three  daughters — but  of  these,  only  three  are  now  living, 
John,  David  A.  and  Andrew  J.  Five  of  the  sons  were  in  the  Civil 
war  on  the  Union  side,  and  two  of  these,  George  and  Henry  F., 
were  killed  in  battle  while  serving  as  members  of  Company  F, 
looth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  known  as  the  "Round  Heads," 
John  also  belonged  to  this  command,  while  David  A.  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  137th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry. 
Daniel,  the  eldest  son,  being  exempt  from  military  duty,  enlisted 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  home  guard.  Andrew  J. 
Malarkey,  youngest  of  the  children  of  this  patriotic  family,  was 
born  at  Saxonburg,  Butler  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  3,  1846.  He  grew  up 
on  his  father's  farm,  attended  the  neighborhood  schools,  and  led 
the  usual  uneventful  life  of  a  country  boy  until  his  sixteenth  year. 


342  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

after  which,  to  use  the  expressive  phrase  of  this  age,  "there  was 
something  doing. "  Not  to  be  behind  his  brothers  in  patriotism, 
young  Andrew  enlisted,  in  June,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  F, 
of  the  56th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia,  with  which  he  served 
three  months.  Desiring  more  active  service,  he  re-enlisted,  Feb.  3, 
1863,  in  Compan)''  L,  14th  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  commanded  by 
Col.  J.  M.  Schoonmaker.  With  this  regiment  he  enjoyed  enough 
excitement  during  the  ensuing  two  years  to  satisfy  the  most  ambi- 
tious boy.  He  took  part  in  the  severe  fighting  at  Winchester, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Woodstock,  and  was  in  many  skirmishes  during 
and  after  the  famous  Lynchburg  raid.  On  Oct.  3,  1864,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Mt.  Jackson,  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
Va.,  but  after  a  detention  of  ten  days,  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
parole.  With  this  brief  exception,  he  lost  no  time  with  his  regi- 
ment, to  which  he  returned  after  leaving  prison,  and  was  discharged 
in  September,  1865,  at  Leavenworth,  Kan.  After  the  war,  Mr. 
Malarkey  worked  in  the  railroad  service  for  seven  years,  and  then 
engaged  in  the  oil  business.  He  drilled  for  oil  from  New  York  to 
Tennessee,  and  during  his  long  connection  with  that  business, 
a  period  of  twenty-eight  years,  he  met  with  the  usual  discourage- 
ments and  disappointments,  but  on  the  whole  was  quite  success- 
ful. Eventually  he  retired  from  the  oil  business,  and  for  several 
years  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  at  Hartley's 
station,  on  the  Bessemer  road.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  coal 
business  and  in  gold-mining  in  Colorado.  Since  his  retirement 
from  the  army,  he  has  made  his  home  at  Tarentum,  where  he 
owns  the  finest  residence  in  the  town,  built  by  himself  on  East 
Tenth  street  in  1892.  Mr.  Malarkey  is  a  charter  member  of  Eli 
Hemphill  post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  was  organized 
in  1878.  His  other  fraternal  connections  are  with  Pollock  lodge, 
No.  502,  F.  and  A.  M.  ;  Wellsville,  N.  Y.,  chapter.  No.  143, 
R.  A.  M. ;  St.  John's  commandery,  No.  24,  Olean,  N.  Y.,  Knights 
Templars,  and  B.  P.  O.  E.,  No,  644,  at  Tarentum.  Though  a 
democrat  originally,  he  supported  Lincoln,  also  Grant  at  his  first 
election,  and  McKinley  in  1896  and  1900.  In  November,  1864,  Mr. 
Malarkey  married  Mary  C. ,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wolf,  who  is  men- 
tioned in  another  part  of  this  work.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Tarentum.  Of  their  three 
children,  Harry  E.  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  Samuel  H,  is 
with  his  father  in  the  brick  business,  and  John  L.  is  a  lawyer  by 
profession. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  343 

JOSEPH  CAMPBELL,  retired  miller, 
residing  at  Woodville,  was  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  on  New  Year's  day, 
1840.  His  parents  were  James  and  Mar- 
garet (Alberthnot)  Campbell.  James 
Campbell  was  a  farmer  in  Ireland.  He 
died  in  1882,  when  seventy-five  years  old, 
and  his  wife  m  1883,  at  about  the  same 
age.  Joseph  Campbell  is  one  of  twelve 
children,  of  whom  five,  besides  himself, 
are  living:  Mrs.  Charles  Pierce,  Mrs. 
Samuel  McVey,  Miss  Eliza,  Miss  Mar- 
garet and  Mrs.  William  Frew.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  educated  in  Ireland,  and  learned  there  the  trade  of 
milling,  at  which  he  spent  four  years  before  coming  to  the  United 
States.  He  landed  in  America  on  June  11,  1871,  and  came  to  Alle- 
gheny county  two  months  later,  locating  at  Woodville,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  at  once  took  charge  of  the  Woodville  flour- 
ing mill  and  ran  it  for  eleven  years,  then  bought  the  property,  and 
has  been  owner  and  manager  for  over  thirty  years.  In  1901  the 
mill  was  remodeled  and  fitted  out  with  the  most  modern  milling 
machinery,  so  that  it  is  now  the  best  equipped  mill  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  The  mill  grinds  wheat,  corn,  buckwheat  and  rye, 
and  has  a  capacity  of  fifty  barrels  a  day.  It  is  excellently  located 
on  Chartiers  creek,  and  can  be  run  either  by  water  power  or 
steam.  For  the  past  four  years  natural  gas  has  been  used  as  fuel, 
the  mill  being  provided  with  a  gas  well  near  by.  A  side-track  on 
Mr.  Campbell's  property  connects  it  with  the  Chartiers  branch  of 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and,  in  all,  the  mill  has  facilities  of 
three  railroads,  which  carry  the  products  in  every  direction.  The 
mill  is  a  structure  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  size,  with  four  stories, with 
a  slate  roof,  and  the  sheds  and  side  toward  the  railroad  track  pro- 
tected against  sparks  by  a  sheet-iron  covering.  As  a  further  safe- 
guard against  fire,  there  is  a  stand-pipe  running  up  through  the 
center  of  the  mill,  and  each  floor  is  provided  with  twenty-five  feet 
of  rubber  hose.  In  all  his  long  experience,  Mr.  Campbell  has 
never  suffered  loss  by  fire.  The  fifty-horse-power  engine  with 
which  the  mill  is  equipped  has  never  suffered  a  breakdown,  because 
Mr.  Campbell  is,  besides  being  a  practical  miller,  an  engineer  and 
.mechanic  as  well.  On  Dec.  8,  i860,  Mr.  Campbell  was  married  to 
Miss  Agnes  Rogers,  a  native  of  County  Down,  Ireland,  and  has 
had  thirteen  children.     Of  these,  Elizabeth  died  when  twenty-one 


344 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


years  old,  Robert  died  when  twenty-three  years  old,  Agnes  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  three  others  died  young,  two  being 
twins.  Those  living  are:  James,  a  clerk  at  his  father's  mill; 
William  W.,  a  miller;  Maggie,  who  married  John  Wilson,  who  is 
employed  in  a  railroad  office  in  Pittsburg,  and  lives  in  Woodville; 
David  R, ,  an  assistant  in  the  mill,  who  married  Alice  Gudbub; 
Lottie  C. ,  Joseph  L.  and  Clara  J,  W.  He  has  also  eight  grandchil- 
dren. His  daughter,  Mrs.  Wilson,  has  three  children,  Joseph  L., 
Howard  R.  and  Agnes  M.,  and  lost  one  child,  James,  who  died 
when  three  years  old;  and  his  son,  David  R.,  has  four  children, 
Jacob  R.,  Joseph  A.,  David  R.  and  Mary  E. ,  and  had  another  child, 
Harry,  who  died  when  two  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Campbell  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of 
Woodville,  of  which  Mr.  Campbell  is  treasurer  and  trustee.  Mr. 
Campbell  is  treasurer  of  the  building  and  loan  association  and  a 
member  of  the  grain  exchange.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
republican.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  man  whose  life  has  been  as  honor- 
able as  it  has  been  prosperous.  He  is  a  man  of  spotless  integrity, 
and  the  products  of  his  mill  are  noted  for  their  honest  value,  which 
gives  them  a  ready  sale.  He  has  won  for  himself  in  the  community 
an  enviable  standing  as  a  miller,  a  citizen-and  a  friend. 


JOHN  A.  KEYS,  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  at  No.  604  Bakewell  building, 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  one  of  those  men  who 
have  come  up  from  the  ranks  by  sheer 
force  of  will  and  indomitable  energy 
He  was  born  in  Washington  township 
Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  16,  1856.  His  par 
ents,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased 
were  John  and  Hannah  (McLelland)  Keys 
As  a  boy,  John  A.  Keys  attended  the  com 
mon  schools  of  his  native  county.  Later 
he  took  a  preparatory  course  in  Monon- 
gahela  college,  at  Jefferson,  Pa.,  and,  in 
Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  located 
The  following  year  he  began  the  study 
of  law  in  the  offices  of  Wyly,  Buchanan  &  Walton,  of  Waynesburg, 
Pa.,  but  before  completing  his  studies  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  took  a  full  course  in  the  law  department  of  Washington 
university,  graduating  in  1881.  He  was  at  once  admitted  to  the 
St.  Louis  bar,  and  for  three  years  practiced  his  profession  in  that 


1877,  graduated   from 
at    Washington,    Pa., 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  345 

city.  In  1884  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  from  that  time 
until  1898  he  was  engaged  in  school  work.  While  thus  employed 
he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Lucy  R.  Bayard,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  -Rebecca  A.  Bayard,  of  Greene  county,  and,  on  Sept.  6, 
1888,  they  were  married.  To  this  union  one  daughter,  Florence 
Rebecca,  has  been  born.  In  1898  Mr.  Keys  was  admitted  to  the 
Allegheny  county  bar,  and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in 
practice  in  Pittsburg.  He  is  the  solicitor  for  several  corporations, 
and  in  February,  1903,  was  elected  burgess  for  the  borough  of 
Wilkinsburg,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  member  of 
Wilkinsburg  council,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  a  member  and  elder  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  Wilkinsburg. 

W.  J.  CAMPBELL,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  West  Deer  township,  comes  of 
Irish  ancestry,  who,  for  generations  back, 
were  successful  tillers  of  the  soil.  His 
grandfather  came  from  Ireland  during 
the  early  years  of  the  last  century,  settled 
in  Allegheny  county,  married  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  an  honored  citi- 
zen, after  devoting  his  life  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil.  His  son,  Thomas  A. 
Campbell,  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
James  Ross,  who  came  from  Ireland  and 
married  a  Miss  Anderson,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  near  Kirksville,  Mo.  His  widow  ended  her  days 
in  West  Deer  township  at  an  advanced  age.  Thomas  A.  Campbell 
owns  ninety-five  acres  of  land,  and  has  farmed  with  success  in  his 
native  township.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the  republican  party,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  for  two  terms.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  while  his  wife  was 
connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  Dec  11,  1890.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven 
daughters  and  one  son,  all  living  except  one  of  the  former,  W.  J. 
Campbell,  the  only  son,  was  born  in  West  Deer  township, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb  23,  1859.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's 
farm,  enjoyed  the  usual  school  routine,  and  obtained  a  thorough 
mastery  of  the  details  of  farm  work  by  the  time  he  had 
attained  to  manhood's  estate.  For  some  time  he  has  had  charge 
of  the  homestead,  and  has  managed  the  affairs  with  discretion  and 
good  judgment.      Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  republican  party. 


346  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and,  with  his  wife,  renders  allegiance  to  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.  On  Sept.  26,  1889,  Mr.  Campbell  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rachael,  daughter  of  George  Hoffman,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  West  Deer  township.  They  have  five  children,  Loyd 
Webster,  Norman  Ray,  Bertha  lone,  Clifford  Anderson  and 
William  Kenneth. 

GEORGE  MAURER,  of  Clairton,  Pa., 
is  a  native  of  Lawrence  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  in  1862.  He  is  a  son 
of  Christopher  and  Mary  Ann  (Rhodes) 
Maurer.  Christopher  Maurer  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1832,  and  came  to 
this  country  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
settling  in  Lawrence  county,  Ohio, 
where,  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
spent  in  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  he  remained 
until  1877,  when  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Athens  county,  Ohio,  locating 
in  the  Hocking  valley,  where  he  still 
resides  and  follows  the  occupation  of  a  stationary  engineer.  Mary 
Ann  Rhodes,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Nassau,  Ger- 
many, in  1831.  When  she  was  thirteen  years  of  age  her  family, 
consisting  of  father,  mother  and  five  children,  came  to  America 
and  located  on  a  farm  near  Galveston,  Tex.  Shortly  after  their 
arrival,  they  were  all  stricken  with  a  plague,  and  in  three  weeks 
the  entire  family,  with  the  exception  of  Mary  Ann  and  one 
brother,  John,  succumbed  to  the  disease.  After  this  calamity,  the 
two  survivors  remained  in  Texas  but  a  few  months,  when  they 
removed  to  Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  where  Mary  Ann  first  met  and 
afterwards  married  Christopher  Maurer.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union,  viz.  :  John,  Adam,  George,  Katy,  Christian, 
Joseph  and  Frank,  the  two  latter  deceased.  George,  the  third  son, 
attended  the  Lawrence  county  schools  during  his  boyhood,  and 
upon  leaving  school,  he  began  working  in  the  mines  of  that  county. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  a  coal-miner  in  the  Ohio  and  Hock- 
ing valleys  tmtil  1884,  when  he  came  to  the  Monongahela  valley, 
where  he  continued  his  work  as  a  miner.  On  the  last  day  of  the 
year  1888  he  was  married  to  Charlotte  J.,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Evan  and  Sarah  A.  Beedle,  of  Jones'  Station,  Pa.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  them:  Evan  B.,  born  Nov.  22,  1889;  Mary  A., 
born  July   28,  1891;  John   C,  born   Aug.    5,  1893;   Edna  M.,  born 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  347 

Feb.  21,  1896,  and  George  E.,  born  Jan.  28,  189S.  At  the  time  of 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Maurer,  Charlotte  J.  Beedle  owned  a  half 
interest  in  the  grocer)'  store  of  Beedle  &  Co.,  at  Elben  Station,  Pa., 
S.  D.  Beedle,  her  brother,  being  her  partner  in  the  business.  In 
1897  she  and  her  husband,  Mr.  Maurer,  who  had  continued  his 
work  in  the  mines  since  his  marriage,  purchased  the  interest  of 
S.  D.  Beedle,  and  continued  the  business  under  the  name  of  C.  J. 
Maurer.  From  that  date  Mr.  Maurer  devoted  most  of  his  attention 
to  the  interests  of  the  store.  In  April,  1902,  he  removed  to  Clair- 
ton,  Pa.,  but  did  not  close  out  the  business  at  Elben  Station  until 
the  following  March.  In  the  spring  of  1903  he  started  in  the  livery- 
business  at  Clairton,  and  later  added  to  this,  contract  hauling,  deal- 
ing in  grain,  hay  and  vehicles.  He  is  also  a  prominent  dealer  in 
real  estate,  in  which  business  he  has  been  very  successful,  espe- 
cially in  property  at  Blair  postofiEice  and  Elben  Station,  Pa. 
Mr.  Maurer  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Clair  Roman  Catholic  church  of 
Clairton,  and  in  politics  is  an  enthusiastic  republican.  While  living 
in  Washington  county  he  served  one  term  as  school  director  of 
Union  township.  In  this  position  he  demonstrated  his  ability  to 
grapple  with  public  affairs,  which  he  conducted  with  the  same  dili- 
gence and  fidelity  that  has  made  him  so  justly  successful  in  his 
personal  concerns. 

^^^^^^  ROBERT  BECK,  city  assessor  of  Alle- 

^^^^HNJj^^^  gheny  city.   Pa.,  was  born  in  Allegheny 

^^^Km      ^^^^        *^^^y   ^^    ^^^3-     ^6   ^s   a  son  of  the   late 
^^^^BUjNk'  BB^       Peter  Beck,' who  died  in  1887,  and  Mag- 
B^K^mmM        -^^I^^A      dalena    Beck,    who    is    still    living.      Mr. 
P'^^^^E]^*      ^j^^^l      Beck's  first  education  was  obtained  in  the 
'1^.._      ^^^H     public   school  of  the   third  ward  of  his 
-^^^^^%\^^^W      native    city.      Next    he    took  a  course  at 
i|^^^HHifl^^^V       Duff's   college,  in    the  city  of  Pittsburg, 
^^^^^Tj^^^^^r         and  then  served  a  five-year  apprentice- 
^^^^^^^^^^  ship  at  the  tailors'  trade.     For  sixteen 

^^^^^^^  years  he  was  employed  as  a  cutter  by  the 

well-known  and  popular  tailoring  firm  of 
Lehman  &  Kingsbeher,  of  Pittsburg,  and  left  his  position  with 
them  in  April,  1903,  to  accept  the  one  he  at  present  occupies.  Mr. 
Beck  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Wyman  for  a  term  of  three  years. 
Politically,  he  is  a  democrat  without  guile.  For  four  years  he  has 
been  secretary  of  the  democratic  city  committee;  scarcely  a  con- 
vention has  been  held  in  recent  years  in  which  he  has  not  been 


348  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

present  as  a  delegate,  and  in  the  cit)'-  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  leader 
of  his  party.  His  appointment  as  a  democrat  gave  general  satis- 
faction to  his  party  associates.  In  1889  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Philamea  Auth,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  they  have  three  interesting 
children,  Irene,  Colleta  and  Robert.  Mr.  Beck  is  a  member  of 
St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  where  for  twelve  years  he  has  been  one 
of  the  choir.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Heptasophs,  the 
C.  M  B.  A.  and  the  Knights  of  St.  George,  in  all  of  which  he  has 
a  high  standing. 

GEORGE  W.  SNAMAN,  a  leading 
merchant  on  Federal  street,  was  born 
Oct,  12,  1839,  i^  Baltimore,  Md. ,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Katherine  (Spangler) 
Snaman.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
Allegheny  city  in  1840,  and  remained 
with  them  until  his  eleventh  year,  when 
he  left  home  to  look  after  himself.  He 
began  his  career  as  an  errand  boy  for  the 
merchants  of  Federal  street,  later  entered 
the  employ  of  Dunlap,  Luker  &  Co.  as 
clerk,  and  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  Dunlap,  whom  he  afterwards  bought 
out.  Mr.  Snaman  has  been  in  business  on  Federal  street  for 
twenty-five  years,  engaging  in  the  carpet  and  wall-paper  business, 
and  is  kept  busy  looking  after  his  increasing  interests.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  i860.  He  takes  great  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  ward,  has  been  a  member  of  the  common  council,  and 
chairman  of  the  same  for  three  years,  and  is  now  chairman  of  the 
finance  committee  of  the  select  council,  having  been  in  the 
council  for  twenty  years.  In  1862  Mr.  Snaman  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  123d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  the  signal  corps,  and 
served  nine  months.  He  was  married,  Oct.  3,  1865,  to  Ellen  J. 
Dunlap,  daughter  of  his  former  partner,  Capt.  H.  M.  Dunlap,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  eight  children:  Carrie  D.,  married  to 
A.  M.  Irwin;  E.  E.,  living  in  Pittsburg;  Harry  B.  and  Walter  H., 
in  business  with  their  father;  George  S.,  living  in  Allegheny  city; 
Bessie  G.,  at  home;  Frank  B. ,  married  and  lives  in  Allegheny  city, 
and  Charles,  a  high  school  student.  Mr.  Snaman's  father  died  in 
1886  and  his  mother  in  1865,  both  being  buried  in  Uniondale  cem- 
etery.    The  father  was  a   cabinet-maker   by   trade   and  was  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  349 

father  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  Of  these, 
Lewis  clerks  in  his  brother's  store,  but  the  rest  are  scattered. 
Mr.  Snaman  is  practically  a  self-made  man,  both  in  education 
and  business.  Eleven  years  is  a  very  tender  age  to  begin  fighting 
life's  battles,  but  Mr.  Snaman  has  done  it  nobly,  and  has  come  out 
stronger  in  character  for  having  so  nobly  striven. 

EDWARD  P.  JOHNSTON,  principal 
of  the  seventh  ward  school,  Allegheny, 
was  born  in  Brownsville,  Fayette  Co., 
Pa.  His  parents  were  William  H.  and 
Eliza  (Brown)  Johnston,  who  descended 
from  pioneer  settlers  of  that  historic 
town,  coming  from  the  north  of  Ireland. 
W.  H.  Johnston  was  a  successful  building 
contractor,  and  erected  many  prominent 
buildings  in  Washington  and  Fayette 
counties.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter 
of  all  educational  movements,  and  from 
the  labor  of  his  own  hands  provided  the 
means  that  graduated  from  higher  institutions  of  learning  five  sons 
and  two  daughters.  He  was  a  man  six  feet,  three  inches  tall,  and 
of  robust  physical  and  mental  strength.  He  was  prominent  for 
many  years  in  the  politics  of  his  town  and  county,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  council  and  a  director  of  the  Monongahela  bank  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  believed' in  the  gospel  of  hard  work,  and 
in  times  like  these,  when  so  many  think  of  work  only  to  avoid  it, 
it  is  a  credit  to  his  family  that  they  have  inherited  this  virtue  as 
well  as  the  educational  tendencies  of  their  father.  He  was  an 
Episcopalian  and  a  Mason,  The  subject .  of  this  sketch  received 
his  education  in  the  public  school  of  Brownsville  and  the  Indiana 
State  normal  school,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1879.  Since 
graduating,  Mr.  Johnston  has  been  principal  of  the  schools  at 
Freeport,  Brownsville,  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny.  He  is  a  man  of 
positive  and  mathematical  mind,  forms  his  own  opinion  of  men 
and  things,  and  advocates  them  with  a  sincerity  that  no  one 
doubts.  His  school  work  is  marked  by  an  energy  and  enthusiasm 
that  always  succeeds.  He  leads  his  school,  and  has  stimulated  the 
educational  sentiment  of  his  district  to  a  wonderful  degree.  The 
seventh  ward  school  employs  twenty-three  teachers  and  has 
enrolled  1,100  pupils.  Mr.  Johnston  married  Miss  Mary  E. 
Fullerton,  a  successful  teacher  in  the  Freeport  schools,  and  to  them 


350  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

has  been  born  one  child,  Eliza  Brown  Johnston,  a  third-year  stu- 
dent in  the  Allegheny  high  school.  Mr.  Johnston  is  an  Episco- 
palian and  a  Mason. 

WILLIAM  TUNSTALL,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Homestead  valve 
manufacturing  company,  was  born  on 
Squirrel  Hill,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Aug.  23, 
1849.  His  father,  Joshua  Tunstall,  was 
a  son  of  William  Tunstall,  a  native  of 
England,  who  came  to  America  about 
1827,  locating  the  next  year  in  Pittsburg, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
as  a  pattern-maker.  He  married  Alice 
Lord,  and  had  three  children,  Ruth, 
Elizabeth,  and  Joshua,  who  for  many 
years  conducted  a  dairy  farm  on  Squirrel 
Hill,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Joshua  Tunstall  married 
Nanny  Winders,  and  his  children  were:  Alice,  wife  of  Frederick 
Hazely;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  B.  Goodworth;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Bruce  Augustine;  Lois,  who  married  J.  S.  Seimon;  William  Miles, 
and  James.  William  Tunstall's  maternal  grandfather  was  Joseph 
Winders,  also  a  native  of  England,  for  many  years  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness in  Allegheny  county.  William  Tunstall,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  Pittsburg,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  When  a  young  man,  he  served  a  three-year  appren- 
ticeship as  a  carpenter,  and,  in  1871,  moved  to  McKeesport,  where 
he  learned  the  pattern-makers'  trade,  and  followed  his  vocation 
there  until  1876,  when  he  moved  to  Port  Perry  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Carnegie  steel  company.  He  was  also  employed  by 
the  Homestead  steel  works,  in  which  for  seven  years  he  had  charge 
of  the  pattern  department.  When  the  Homestead  valve  .manufac- 
turing company  was  organized,  in  1894,  Mr.  Tunstall  was  one  of 
the  organizers,  and  has  been  since  that  time  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors,  and  since  1898  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
company.  In  1870  Mr.  Tunstall  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  Julia  A.  (Cornelius)  Bail,  of  Allegheny  county,  and 
has  five  children:  Lois,  now  Mrs.  T.  F.  Vankirk;  Miss  Leal, 
Clifford  E.,  William,  Jr.,  and  Claire.  Mr.  Tunstall  is  a  member 
of  Homestead  lodge,  No.  650,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  has  served  for  twelve 
years  as  a  member  of  the  borough  council  of  Homestead. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


351 


ROBERT  C.  YOUNG,  baggage-master 
and  mail  agent  on  the  P.  C.  &  Y.  R.  R., 
at  Carnegie,  was  born  near  Bridgeville, 
Allegheny  county,  July  8,  1846.  His 
parents,  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Roach) 
Young,  were  respectively  of  Beaver  and 
Allegheny  counties.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  carpenter,  noled  for  his  vigor 
J^^^^  Mjl^^^  of  body  and  mind,  and  was  born  March 
^^^F  ^^^m         14,  1818,  near  New  Castle,  Pa.,  and  died 

^B'         ^^m  March    8,    1869,    at    Mt.    Lebanon;    the 

^  l^^r  mother,     born    Feb.    4,    1820,    and    died 

April  10,  :88i.  There  were  ten  chil- 
dren: William,  born  Nov.  18,  1841; 
Ellen  Jane,  born  May  21,  1843;  R.  C,  born  July  8,  1846; 
Annalyza,  born  March  22,  1848;  Margaret  E.,  born  Jan.  2,  1850; 
Mary,  born  Sept  9,  1853;  Mary  E.,  born  Nov.  26,  1855;  infant  son, 
born  March  7,  1859;  Joseph  H.,  born  May  27,  i860;  Thomas  John, 
born  April  2,  1862.  Mary  died  July  31,  1855,  infant  son  died 
March  7,-  1859,  and  William  died  Oct.  13,  1868.  On  the  night  of 
Jan.  16,  1857,  the  home  in  which  Joseph  Young  and  family  lived 
was  burned,  and  the  family  suffered  great 
hardship,  both  on  that  night  and  during 
the  rest  of  the  winter.  It  was  the  coldest 
night  for  many  years,  and  the  nearest 
neighbor  living  over  a  mile  away,  all 
the  members  of  the  family  were  badly 
frozen,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Young 
t,  .   W^^^BLl  were  hardy  pioneers  of   that   early  day, 

|i^^^^||^^HBfett|^  and  even  now  are  remembered  by  many 
with  most  tender  recollections.  Robert 
C.  Young,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  a  very  limited  education,  but 
worked  at  home  on  the  farm  and  at  mak- 
ing brooms.  When  twenty-three  years 
old  he  came  to  Mansfield  (now  Carnegie),  and  started  at  the  rail- 
road business,  being  at  first  employed  on  a  construction  train  and 
helping  to  lay  the  Chartiers  branch  of  the  Pan  Handle.  Later  he 
became  the  assistant  station  agent  at  Carnegie,  holding  that  posi- 
tion for  nine  years.  In  1881  he  went  to  McKeesport,  where  he  was 
employed  for  a  time  in  the  National  tube  works;  then  returned  to 
Carnegie,  beginning  as  a  brakeman  on  the  P.  C.  &  Y.  R.  R.,  and 


MRS.   ANNIE    L.   YOUNG. 


352  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

then  taking  charge  of  the  baggage  and  mail  car.  He  has  held  that 
position  continuously  since  that  time,  and  has  proved  himself  a 
capable  and  efficient  employe.  Mr.  Young  was  married,  Oct.  29, 
1874,  to  Annie  L.  Clark,  a  resident  of  Carnegie,  and  daughter  of 
George  and  Eliza  (Walker)  Clark.  Her  father  was  a  painter  by 
trade,  and  was  for  many  years  a  school  director.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  an  elder  and  a  member  of 
the  choir.  He  died  in  1887  at  the  age  of  sixty-two;  his  wife  still 
survives  him,  and  is  in  her  seventy-seventh  year.  Mr.  Clark  was 
a  son  of  George  and  Abigail  (Caldwell)  Clark,  the  father  a  black- 
smith near  Carnegie,  while  Mrs.  Clark's  parents  were  James  and 
Matilda  (Buining)  Walker.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  Clark,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Young,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  first-born,  and  of  the  others,  Matilda  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-eight;  James  W.,  George  H.,  William  J.  and 
Robert  B.  are  all  painters  residing  in  Carnegie,  and  Abigail  C.  is 
now  the  wife  of  George  Hay,  of  Tarentum.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  C. 
Young  have  three  children  living:  George  A.,  a  graduate  of  Duff's 
business  college,  and  now  individual  bookkeeper  in  the  Colonial 
trust  company,  at  Fourth  avenue,  Pittsburg;  Joseph  H.,  educated 
at  Carnegie  and  Pittsburg  academy,  now  receiving  teller  at 
Holmes  &  Sons'  bank,  and  William  H.,  attending  high  school. 
One  child,  Robert  Dickson,  born  July  18,  1883,  died  Jan.  7,  1886. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Mr.  Young  has  been  a  teacher  and  worker  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school for  many  years.      In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

ROBERT  L.  HENDERSON,  a  prom- 
inent republican,  and  member  of  the  com- 
mon council  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  from 
the  third  ward,  was  born  in  the  ward  in 
1857,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert,  who  died 
in  1879,  and  Mary  Henderson,  well-known 
and  honored  residents  of  the  city. 
Robert,  Jr.,  attended  the  third  ward 
school  until  he  completed  the  course  of 
study  and  then  entered  the  Western 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  he  left  the  university  and  went 
to  work  for  the  McClure  coal  company  as 
superintendent  of  their  works  at  Painter,  Pa.  His  success  in  this 
position  soon  led  to  his  promotion  I0  that  of  general  superintend- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  353 

ent  of  all  the  company's  works  throughout  the  coke  region.  He 
is  at  present  associated  with  Gilbert  T.  Rafferty,  with  offices  in 
the  Lewis  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  though  he  resides  at  No.  1317 
Boyle  St.,  Allegheny  city.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected 
to  represent  the  third  ward  in  the  common  council,  where  he  is 
now  serving  on  the  committees  on  finance  and  charities.  Mr. 
Henderson  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  339,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  is  always  one  of  the  foremost 
men  in  the  charitable  acts  of  his  lodge.  Throughout  his  entire 
business  and  political  career,  his  course  has  been  distinguished  by 
careful  attention  to  the  details  of  his  duties  and  a  strict  integrity. 
As  a  result,  he  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 

JOSIAH  PAINTER,  of  Natrona,  Pa., 
a  successful  and  highly  prosperous 
farmer,  was  born  in  Butler  county.  Pa., 
April  22,  1830,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Christina  Painter,  the  former  a  native  of 
Westmoreland  county,  and  the  latter  of 
Armstrong  county.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  only  son.  Joseph  Painter  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  owning  100  acres  of  land, 
a  republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Josiah  Painter  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Fawn  township, 
Allegheny  county,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  has 
devoted  his  entire  business  life  to  farming.  He  was  also  engaged 
in  the  market  business  for  twenty  years,  and  in  both  of  these  lines 
he  has  been  unusually  successful,  and  now  has  300  acres  of  land  in 
Fawn  township,  152  acres  in  Harrison  township,  and  85  acres  in 
Buffalo  township,  Butler  county.  In  1900  he  located  on  the  Free- 
port  road,  in  Harrison  township,  near  Birdville,  and  has  since 
resided  there.  Mr.  Painter  is  a  republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  married,  in  1853,  to 
Mary  J.  J.  McKee,  a  native  of  Washington  county.  Pa.,  and  the 
following  ten  children  have  been  born  to  them,  viz. :  Salinda, 
Robert  (deceased),  Joseph  (deceased),  Annie,  Gilbert  E.,  Jennie, 
William,  Maud,  Charles  (deceased)  and  Harry  (deceased).  Mr. 
Painter  has  enjoyed  a  long  and  highly  successful  life,  and  is  well 
and  favorably  known  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 

1-23 


JOHN    HUNTINGDON    CHAPLIN, 


LIEUT.    COM      lAMl'S    r  ROSSAN 
CHAPLIN. 


GEN.    JOHN  NEVILLE. 

{Silhouette.) 


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.EVILLE     FAMILY    CRE 


LIEUT.    WILLIAM   CRAIG 
CHAPLIN. 


JAMES    CROSSAN    CHAPLIN. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  355 

GEN.    JOHN    NEVILLE. 

A  Distinguished  Soldier  and  Citizen. 

Gen.  John  Neville  was  a  son  of  Richard  Neville  and  Ann 
Burroughs,  who  was  a  cousin  of  Lord  Fairfax.  He  was  born  in 
Virginia,  July  26,  1731,  and  was  an  early  acquaintance  of  Washing- 
ton, and  served  with  him  in  Braddock's  expedition.  He  was  in 
Lord  Dunmore's  expedition  in  1774,  the  last  war  in  which  Ameri- 
cans were  engaged  as  the  subjects  of  the  kiug  of  Great  Britain.  The 
earl  of  Dunmore  at  that  time  was  the  governor  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  colony  and  dominion  of  Virginia.  General  Neville 
made  large  entries  and  purchases  of  land  on  Chartiers  creek,  and 
built  a  house  there,  into  which  he  was  about  to  move  when  the  Revo- 
lutionary troubles  began.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  provin- 
cial convention  of  Virginia,  which  appointed  George  Washington, 
Peyton  Randolph  and  others  to  the  first  continental  congress,  but 
was  prevented  by  sickness  from  attending.  On  Aug.  7,  1775,  the 
provincial  convention  of  Virginia  ordered  him  to  march  with  his 
company  and  take  possession  of  Fort  Pitt.  He  was  colonel  of  the 
4th  Virginia  regiment  in  the  Revolution,  subsequently  he  was  a 
member  of  the  supreme  executive  council  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
the  Pennsylvania  convention  which  ratified  the  federal  constitu- 
tion. He  was  also  a  member  of  the  convention  which  formed  the 
constitution  of  Pennsylvania.  General  Neville  was  a  descendant 
of  the  earl  of  Warwick  (Neville),  the  king-maker  of  Eng- 
land. In  1791,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  President  Wash- 
ington and  Secretary  Hamilton,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of 
inspector  of  the  revenue  in  the  fourth  survey  of  the  district  of 
Pennsylvania,  which  he  held  until  the  fiery  ordeal  of  the  whiskey 
insurrection  had  passed.  In  May,  1793,  congress  passed  material 
modification  to  the  law,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  excitement 
increased;  not  only  were  collectors  visited  with  violence,  but  those 
who  complied  with  the  law.  The  adversaries  of  the  law  went  so 
far  as  to  burn  the  barns  and  tear  down  the  houses  of  the  collectors 
and  others,  and  threaten  with  death  those  who  should  disclose 
their  names.  So  strong  was  the  public  feeling  that  one  word  in 
favor  of  the  law  was  enough  to  ruin  any  man.  It  was  considered 
as  a  badge  of  toryism.  No  clergyman,  physician,  lawyer  or  mer- 
chant was  sustained  by  the  people  unless  his  sentiments  were  in 
opposition.  On  July  16,  1794,  a  band  of  about  forty  individuals 
attacked  the  mansion  of  Gen.  John  Neville,  chief  inspector  of 
western  Pennsylvania,  situated  eleven  miles  southwest  of  Pittsburg. 


356  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

It  was  defended  by  Major  Kirkpatrick,  a  brother-in-law,  with 
eleven  men  from  the  garrison  at  Pittsburg.  The  attack  was  pre- 
viously made  with  small  arms,  and  the  house  having  been  set  on 
fire,  the  garrison  was  obliged  to  surrender.  One  of  the  insurgents 
was  killed. 

General  Neville  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  patriots  of  the 
Revolution,  and  a  man  of  great  wealth  and  unbounded  benevo- 
lence. During  "starving  years"  of  the  early  settlement  in  that 
region,  he  contributed  largely  to  the  necessities  of  the  suffering 
pioneers,  and,  when  necessary,  he  divided  his  last  loaf  with 
the  needy.  In  accepting  the  office  of  inspector  of  the  revenue,  he 
was  governed  by  a  sense  of  public  duty,  doing  so  at  the  hazard  of 
his  life  and  the  loss  of  all  his  property.  All  his  Revolutionary  serv- 
ices and  his  great  popularity  were  insufficient  to  shield  him  from 
public  indignation,  and  his  hospitable  mansion  was  consumed  to 
ashes  in  the  presence  of  hundreds  who  had  shared  his  bounty 
or  enjoyed  his  benevolence.  The  story  of  this  insurrection  has 
in  it  more  of  thrilling  interest  than  the  best  of  the  historical 
novels,  for  the  greatest  men  in  the  land,  from  President  Washington 
down,  were  concerned  in  it.  Among  these  were  Albert  Gallatin, 
Senator  Ross  and  Gen.  John  Neville;  in  fact,  all  the  men  of  note 
in  the  State.  General  Neville  was  appointed  agent  at  Pittsburg 
for  the  sale  of  lands,  under  act  of  congress,  of  May  i8,  1796,  entitled : 
"An  act  for  the  sale  of  the  lands  of  the  United  States  in  the  terri- 
tory northwest  of  the  Ohio,"  etc.  General  Neville  built,  at  his 
own  expense,  the  first  Protestant  Episcopal  church  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  in  1790.  At  that  time  there  was  no  parish, 
or,  in  fact,  Episcopal  diocese  in  this  county,  the  country  hereabout 
being  included  in  the  territory  under  the  New  York  diocese.  With 
the  founding  of  the  St.  Luke's,  as  it  was  called  from  the  first,  of 
Chartiers,  Allegheny  county,  a  parish  was  carved  out,  and  Rev. 
Francis  Reno  was  brought  on  from  the  east  and  ordained  by 
Bishop  White.  General  Neville  paid  the  bills  for  his  preparation 
for  the  ministry.  John  Neville  was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth 
for  those  times,  and  was,  beyond  doubt,  the  ablest  and  most  promi- 
nent man  in  this  end  of  the  State.  He  married  Winifred  Oldham, 
a  daughter  of  Colonel  Oldham,  of  a  noted  Virginian  family.  He 
died  on  July  29,  1803,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Neville  township, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Trinity  churchyard  of  Pittsburg. 

Gen.  Pressley  Neville  was  his  only  son,  and  Amelia  his  only 
daughter.  Pressley  was  born  Sept.  6,  1755,  ^^  Winchester,  Va., 
and    died    Dec.    i,    18 18.     Gen.    Pressley    Neville   married    Nancy 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  357 

Morgan,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  the  celebrated  General 
Morgan,  leader  of  the  rifle  corps  of  the  Revolution,  and  she, 
Breckenridge  says,  "blessed  him  with  an  offspring  as  numerous 
and  as  beautiful  as  the  children  of  Niobe. "  Gen.  Pressley  Neville 
was  an  aide-de-camp  on  General  Lafayette's  staff,  and  an  accom- 
plished man  of  fine  education.  His  declination  to  become  a  candi- 
date for  congress,  Aug.  4,  1798,  was  a  very  great  disappointment, 
the  district  at  that  time  being  composed  of  Greene,  Washington  and 
Allegheny  counties.  He  entertained  on  different  occasions  two  of 
the  most  distinguished  characters  in  the  history  of  France — the 
duke  of  Orleans,  afterwards  King  Louis  Philippe,  and  that  other 
uncrowned  king,  the  Marquis  Lafayette.  When  the  revolution, 
which  broke  out  in  1789,  upturned  the  monarchy  of  France,  the 
exiled  heir  to  the  throne,  with  his  two  brothers,  Montpensier  and 
Beaujolais,  took  refuge  in  America.  In  1794  the  future  king  of 
France,  accompanied  by  his  two  brothers,  reached  Pittsburg.  Gen. 
Pressley  Neville  then  lived  at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Ferry 
streets,  and  being  the  friend  of  the  outcast  and  the  oppressed,  he 
was  importuned  by  a  French  resident  to  entertain  the  strangers. 
To  this  he  at  first  demurred,  saying  that  while  he  was  "the  friend 
of  Rochambeau  and  Lafayette  and  the  friend  of  the  unfortunate 
Louis — not  as  a  monarch,  but  as  a  man,"  he  hesitated  as  an 
American  to  receive  the  representatives  of  the  fallen  monarchy. 
But  his  humanity  and  hospitality  overcame  all  other  scruples,  and 
he  received  the  noted  Frenchmen  into  his  home  and  entertained 
them  during  their  stay  in  Pittsburg.  Louis  and  his  kinsmen  never 
forgot  the  kindness  of  General  Neville.  Afterwards,  when  a  son 
of  the  latter,  Capt.  Frederick  Neville,  of  the  United  States  navy, 
happened  to  be  in  Marseilles,  Louis,  then  king,  sent  for  the  young 
officer  and  lavished  upon  him  every  attention.  At  the  ceremonies 
in  Pittsburg  over  Washington's  death,  a  famous  oration  was 
delivered  by  Gen.  Pressley  Neville,  Jan.  11,  1800. 

Amelia  Neville  married,  Feb.  i,  1785,  Maj.  Isaac  Craig. 

MAJ.    ISAAC   CRAIG. 

A  Renowned  Citizen  and  Soldier  of  the  Early  Days. 

Maj.  Isaac  Craig  was  born  near  Hillsborough,  County  Down, 
northeastern  coast  of  Ireland,  in  the  year  1741,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1765.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he 
took  up  arms  in  defense  of  his  adopted  country's  rights,  determined 
not  to  lay  them   down  until  with  his  life  or  the  establishment  of 


358  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

freedom.  In  November,  1775,  he  was  appointed  a  first  lieutenant 
of  marines  in  the  navy,  and  served  ten  months  in  that  capacity,  on 
board  the  "Andrew  Doria,"  commanding  marines.  This  vessel 
formed  one  of  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Hopkins,  which  captured 
Fort  Nassau  and  Montague,  on  the  island  of  New  Providence,  in 
the  West  Indies.  The  governor  himself  was  captured,  together 
with  many  valuable  stores,  then  much  needed  by  the  Americans, 
and  subsequently  used  in  Rhode  Island  and  on  the  Delaware.  Of 
these,  a  minute  inventory  was  made  by  Lieutenant  Craig.  Upon 
return  to  harbor,  in  October,  1776,  he  was  commissioned  captain. 
In  the  November  following,  the  marines  were  ordered  into  the 
army  as  infantry,  and  performed  artillery  duty.  He  was  commis- 
sioned in  March,  1777,  a  captain  of  artillery,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Proctor.  Upon  the  promotion  of  Major  Ford  to  the  lieu- 
tenant-colonelcy. Captain  Craig  was  entitled  to  the  majority,  but 
through  misunderstanding,  caused  by  his  absence  at  sea,  the 
supreme  executive  council  appointed  Capt.  Andrew  Porter  to  the 
vacancy.  This  led  to  a  strong  letter  of  protest  on  the  part  of 
Captain  Craig,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Feb.  21,  1782.  The  council 
reconsidered  and  revoked  the  order,  and  conferred  priority  of  com- 
mission as  major  on  Captain  Craig,  in  the  4th  regiment  or  artil- 
lery, annexed  by  resolution  of  congress  to  the  Pennsylvania  line. 
He  participated  in  a  number  of  battles,  among  them  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Monmouth  and  Brandywine.  Major  Craig  was  ordered 
to  Fort  Pitt  to  join  General  Clark  in  an  intended  expedition  against 
Detroit,  which,  however,  failed  to  take  place.  At  Fort  Pitt  he 
performed  various  services  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  government, 
and  became  noted  for  his  energy,  activity  and  integrity.  During 
his  service  at  Fort  Pitt  he  availed  himself  of  the  land  laws  of  the 
State  by  taking  up  some  valuable  tracts  of  land.  The  first  land 
sales  were  made  by  the  Penns  to  Maj.  Isaac  Craig  and  Stephen 
Bayard  in  the  "Manor  of  Pittsburg,"  in  1784.  In  1797  he  and  Gen. 
James  O'Hara  built  the  first  glass-works  erected  in  western  Penn- 
sylvania, preceding  those  of  Albert  Gallatin  at  Brownsville  a  few 
months. 

On  Feb.  i,  1785,  he  v^as  married  to  Amelia,  only  daughter  of 
Gen.  John  Neville,  then  living  at  Bower  Hill,  on  the  Chartiers 
creek,  and  became  the  father  of  a  numerous  family,  some  of  whom 
followed  the  military  instinct  of  their  father:  Percy  Craig  was 
senior  surgeon  of  the  United  States  army,  and  medical  director 
under  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  in  Mexico;  Henry  Knox  Craig  was 
general   and   chief   of   ordnance.  United    States   army,   and   Isaac 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  359 

Eugene  Craig  was  lieutenant  in  the  engineer  corps  of  the  United 
States.     Some  lived  until  a  very  recent  period. 

Oldham  Craig,  a  well-known  Pittsburger,  died  Oct.  4,  1874,  on 
his  way  to  Florence,  Italy,  to  visit  a  son. 

Amelia  Ne\'ille  Craig  died  Oct.  27,  1879. 

Maj.  Isaac  Craig  died  on  Montour's  (now  Neville)  island, 
May  4,  1825,  and  was  buried  in  Trinity  churchyard,  Pittsburg. 

Maj.  Isaac  Craig's  eldest  son  was  Neville  B.  Craig,  who  was 
prominent  in  the  early  trials  of  the  country,  and  was  born  in  the 
Colonel  Bouquet  redoubt  on  March  29,  1787.  He  studied  at  the 
Pittsburg  academy,  graduated  at  Princeton  college,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar  on  Aug.  13,  1810.  He  was  a 
successful  lawyer,  but  in  1829  became  the  owner  and  editor  of  the 
Pittsburg  Gazette,  which  he  converted  into  the  first  daily  in  Pitts- 
burg, continuing  until  1841,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest.  As 
an  editor  he  was  bold  and  successful,  devoting  his  vigorous  powers 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  city  of  his  birth  and  his  country.  He 
was  the  author  of  several  historical  works,  one  of  them  a  history  of 
Pittsburg.  He  was  solicitor  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg  from  1821 
until  1829.  In  1822  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  Walter 
Forward,  lasting  several  years. 

JOHN    HUNTINGDON    CHAPLIN. 

From  an  Address  to  the  Allegheny  County  Bar  Association,  Dec.  i, 
1888,  by  Chief  Justice  Daniel  Agnew. 

This  time  the  Green  Mountain  State  contributed  her  gift  to 
Pittsburg's  noted  lawyers.  John  Huntingdon  Chaplin,  of  Royal- 
ton,  Vt.,  was  born  there  in  1782.  His  parents  were  William 
Chaplin  and  Judith  (Huntingdon)  Chaplin.  Mrs.  Chaplin's 
brother,  Samuel  Huntingdon,  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  John  H.  Chaplin  was  graduated  at  Yale  college, 
Connecticut,  and  came  to  Pittsburg  in  1805,  where  he  studied  law 
with  Henry  Baldwin,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  Nov.  15,  1808. 
On  June  28,  1809,  he  was  married  to'Harriet  Craig,  eldest  daughter 
of  Maj.  Isaac  Craig,  of  the  United  States  army,  and  Amelia 
(Neville)  Craig,  only  daughter  of  Gen.  John  Neville,  then  of  Bower 
Hill,  on  Chartiers  creek,  near  Pittsburg.  By  this  marriage  Mr. 
Chaplin  became  connected  with  two  of  the  most  distinguished 
families  in  western  Pennsylvania.  On  July  25,  1809,  William 
Chaplin,  his  father,  wrote  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  a  very  kind  and 
flattering  letter  of  congratulation,  dated  at  Bethel,  near  Royalton, 


360  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  and  bore  testimony  to  the  high  character  of  his 
son.  His  only  regret  was  the  great  distance  intervening,  which 
made  strangers  of  both  families.  The  date  of  this  letter  and  that 
of  the  marriage  show  that  letters  must  have  taken  a  month  to  go 
and  a  month  to  come.  This  fact  reminds  us  of  the  advance  in  our 
time  of  all  that  relates  to  convenience  in  travel,  and  to  the  unity 
and  greatness  of  our  country.  The  news  by  telegraph  would  have 
taken  less  than  an  hour  to  find  its  way  over  this  widespread  land, 
and  by  mail  only  a  few  days.  A  portrait  of  John  Huntingdon 
Chaplin,  painted  in  Boston,  is  said  to  have  been  on  exhibition 
recently  in  Gillespie's  art  room,  on  Wood  street,  Pittsburg,  the 
queue  and  powdered  hair  denoting  the  fashion  of  the  early  time. 
Mr.  Chaplin  was  at  one  time  worshipful  master  of  Lodge  No.  45, 
of  Pittsburg,  an  order  of  Masons  chartered  by  the  provincial  grand 
lodge  of  England,  Dec.  27,  1785.  This  lodge  (No.  45)  celebrated 
its  centennial  in  Pittsburg,  Dec.  27,  1885. 

The  purchase  of  Florida  was  made  of  Spain  in  181 9.  That 
country  was  supposed  by  many  to  be — as  it  was  called  by  Ponce 
de  Leon  when  in  search  of  the  fountain  of  health  and  beauty — the 
"land  of  flowers,"  and  many  Americans,  on  its  cession  to  the 
United  States,  emigrated  thither,  hoping  to  find  wealth  and 
fortune,  as  well  as  health  and  pleasure,  within  its  orange  groves 
and  ever-blooming  plants.  Among  these  aspirants  of  hope  was 
John  H.  Chaplin,  who  moved  to  Pensacola  in  the  year  1820.  He 
there  practiced  his  profession  successfully,  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to 
redeem  the  promises  of  his  aspirations,  when  cut  off  by  yellow 
fever,  Aug.  24,  1822,  just  as  he  was  about  to  bring  his  long  exile 
from  home  to  an  end  and  to  return  to  his  loved  ones,  whose  sepa- 
ration from  him  had  been  a  constant  sorrow.  Mr.  Chaplin  left  a 
wife  and  two  children — one  a  son,  William  Craig  Chaplin,  who 
became  a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  navy,  and  married 
Sarah  T-,  a  daughter  of  James  Crossan ;  the  other  a  daughter, 
Amelia  Neville  Chaplin  (now  a  widow),  who  married  Thomas  S. 
Shields,  Esq.,  attorney- at-law  and  a  large  landholder,  of  Sewickley, 
Pa.,  Oct.   8,  1832. 

LIEUT.    WILLIAM    CRAIG    CHAPLIN. 

The  only  son  of  Harriet  Craig  and  John  Huntingdon  Chaplin 
was  born  in  Pittsburg,  April  11,  1810,  He  was  a  lieutenant  m  the 
United  States  navy,  in  sea,  shore  or  special  service,  from  1826  to 
1 85 1,  and  died  in  the  officers'  quarters,  at  theCharlestown  navy  yard, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  361 

Boston,  Mass.,  April  25,  1856.  The  following  is  an  order  to  Lieut. 
William  Craig  Chaplin  to  take  charge  of  a  boat  expedition  on  the 
River  Sambas,  west  coast  of  Borneo,  March  18,  1845: 

[Copy] 

U.  S.  Frigate  Constitution, 
Off  the  Island  of  Borneo, 
March  i8th,  1845. 

Sir: — I  have  to  direct  that  you  proceed  with  the  boats  placed 
under  your  charge  and  command,  into  and  up  the  Sambas  River. 
On  entering,  should  you  find  a  Dutch  establishment  there,  you  will 
stop  at  the  same  and  make  enquiry  of  the  officer  or  person  in 
charge  thereof,  whether  such  establishment  is  of  the  Government 
of  Holland  or  belongs  to  a  private  or  incorporated  company  of 
Merchants. 

In  either  case  it  is  desirable  to  ascertain  if  they  have  authority 
to  prevent  Americans  from  trading  with  the  Rajahs  and  Natives 
on  the  Coast  or  in  the  River.  This  enquiry  is  one  to  which  I 
respectfully  call  your  attention,  as  involving  great  delicacy,  pro- 
priety and  prudence  on  your  part. 

You  will  endeavor  to  ascertain  how  far  up  the  River  the  Rajah 
resides,  and  where  the  first  Native  village  is  situated.  You  will 
proceed  thither  with  great  caution  and  prudence,  ever  bearing  in 
mind  the  treachery  attributed  to  the  Malay  character,  and  more 
particularly  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island  of  Borneo. 

The  object  of  this  visit  is  to  ascertain  as  far  as  practicable,  the 
disposition  of  the  Rajah  and  his  subjects  to  have  Commerce  with 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  the  cause  heretofore  of  its 
interruption, — the  articles  they  have  to  dispose  of,  and  those  they 
are  desirous  of  obtaining  in  exchange. 

You  will  be  furnished  with  tliree  boats — one,  the  gig,  in  which 
you  will  hold  your  communication  with  the  Natives: — the  others 
will  take  a  position  by  your  direction  to  cover  your  retreat,  should 
treachery  or  murder  be  attempted.  Let  no  offence  be  offered  to 
the  Natives  by  any  under  your  command,  and  should  wrong  be 
committed  on  their  part  do  not  attempt  to  correct  it  by  letting  a 
greater  wrong  be  done  by  those  under  you. 

The  First  Lieutenant,  Mr.  Paine,  will  furnish  every  thing 
necessary  for  the  expedition.  As  I  am  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
geography  of  the  place  ("Sambas"),  or  even  its  location  on  the 
River,  your  own  mind  will  point  out  the  prudence  of  not  passing 
by  villages  of  such  importance,  that  bodies  of  men  collected  therein 
might  cut  off  your  retreat. 

If  you  can  induce  the  Rajahs  or  any  of  the  chief  men  to  visit 
the  ship,  you  are  authorized  by  me  to  assure  them  of  a  kind  recep- 
tion, and  a  guarantee  to  them  of  a  safe  return  to  their  own  village 
unharmed  If  they  ask  for  presents  they  will  receive  them  from 
the  ship  on  making  their  visits 

To  give  minute  directions  for  every  step  proper  for  you  to  take 


362  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

is  impossible.     Much  is  therefore  left  to  your  judgment  and  pru- 
dence, in  which  I  have  entire  confidence,  and  am 

Very  Respectfully, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 
Lt.  William  C.  Chaplin,   )  Percival, 

U.  S.  Frigate  Constitution.  )  Captain. 

From  imperfect  information  obtained  since  the  above  was 
written,  I  infer  that  this  River  is  in  possession  of  the  Dutch  and 
that  there  is  a  Dutch  establishment  thereon.  If  you  find  such  to 
be  the  case  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  proceed  higher  up  the  River 
than  such  establishment,  where  you  will  get  all  the  information 
that  can  probably  be  obtained.  You  will  therefore  return  as  soon 
as  convenient.  It  is  not  my  wish  to  have  the  crews  of  your  boats 
exposed  more  than  the  circumstances  make  necessary. 

Percival. 
[Copy] 

U.  S.  Ship  Constitution, 
Coast  of  Borneo, 
March  21,  1845. 

Sir: — In  compliance  with  your  orders  of  the  i8th  inst.,  I  pro- 
ceeded with  the  boats  under  my  charge  to  the  entrance  of  the 
"Sambas"  River,  where  I  found  a  small  native  village  called 
Ramon-Kat  and  a  guard  boat  of  the  Dutch  Government.  To  the 
officer  in  charge  I  reported  the  name  and  character  of  the  ship  and 
my  wish  to  ascend  the  River  to  the  town  of  "Sambas" ;  to  this  no 
objections  being  offered,  we  entered  the  main  branch  of  the 
Sambas  at  noon  of  the  19th.  This  river  we  found  to  be  a  trifle 
over  a  mile  in  width  and  preserving  a  uniformity,  not  only  in  its 
dimensions,  but  in  its  soundings  and  the  character  of  its  borders; 
the  latter  are  formed  by  a  thick  undergrowth  of  Mangroves, 
through  which  the  water  penetrates  to  some  distance,  affording 
no  landing  except  upon  the  thickly  interwoven  roots  of  this  tree, 
and  those  of  the  Yzer  wood.  (We  had  occasion  to  cook  two  meals 
for  the  boats'  crews  upon  these  remarkable  banks.) 

In  consequence  of  the  great  disparity  between  the  ebb  and  flood 
tides  (the  former  running  eight  hours  and  the  other  but  four  and 
a  half),  we  did  not  reach  the  mouth  of  the  South  branch  until  mid- 
night of  the  19th;  this  branch  of  the  Sambas  is  22  or  23  miles  from 
the  sea,  and  varies  in  width  from  30  to  45  yards,  and  its  borders 
are  similar  to  those  of  the  main  stream,  affording  no  foundation  for 
towns  or  villages.  Being  detained  at  the  entrance  of  this  branch 
by  the  ebb  tide,  I  despatched  Dr.  Reinhardt  to  a  village  situated 
on  a  narrow  stream  a  fev/  miles  from  our  anchorage ;  he  was  fortu- 
nate in  obtaining  a  few  specimens  of  plants, — a  small  Sampan 
which  had  accompanied  us  from  the  guard  boat  gave  him  a  better 
opportunity  to  examine  the  banks  of  this  shallow  stream,  than  one 
of  our  own  boats  could  have  done. 

At  daylight  on  the  20th,  after  a  night  of  incessant  rain,  we 
arrived  at  the  town  of  "Sambas,"  twenty  miles  from  the  main 
stream,     I  called  at  once  upon  the  Governor  and  made  the  report 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  363 

usual  in  such  cases;  with  unlocked  for  hospitality  he  offered  me  a 
house  and  cooking  establishment  for  the  men,  and  invited  the 
officers  to  domesticate  themselves  in  his  own  house ;  this  kindness 
on  his  part  was  further  increased  in  the  course  of  the  day  by 
accompanying  me  to  the  Chinese  and  Malay  Towns,  and  the  frank- 
ness of  his  replies  to  all  my  enquiries. 

From  the  information  which  follows,  obtained  from  Governor 
Baumgardt,  I  felt  satisfied  that  your  order  of  the  i8th  did  not 
require  me  to  proceed  any  higher  up  the  River. 

This  part  of  Borneo  embracing  the  Sambas  and  all  its  branches, 
extending  from  32'  of  South  latitude  to  2"  40'  of  North  and  from 
108"  40'  East  to  110°  57'  of  East  longitude,  comprising  an  area  of 
26,304  square  miles,  contains  a  population  of  50,000  Malays,  50,000 
Dyaks  and  50,000  Chinese,  and  is  entirely  under  the  control  of  the 
Dutch  Government  to  whom  it  was  ceded  in  181 7,  and  has  been 
held  by  it  without  interruption  since  that  period. 

Its  commerce  though  limited  is  entirely  unrestricted,  excepting 
the  articles  of  Salt  and  Gunpowder;  these  are  monopolies  of  the 
Dutch  Government  and  are  contraband  in  vessels  of  other  nations. 
There  is  also  a  small  duty  upon  Tobacco,  which  is  brought  from 
China  and  the  island  of  Java,  but  with  the  exception  of  these 
articles,  all  the  Dutch  possessions  in  the  Island  of  Borneo  are  free 
to  the  traders  of  all  nations.  There  is  however  an  inconsiderable 
Port  duty  of  one  rupee  per  ton  levied  upon  all  vessels  that  ascend 
the  River. 

It  is  matter  of  surprise  that  this  large  territory  affords  no  articles 
of  commerce, — completely  inundated  at  high  water,  communication 
with  the  few  mountains  observable  from  the  coast  is  only  to  be  had 
by  means  of  boats,  and  two  of  these  mountains  afford  to  the  Dutch 
Government  its  only  source  of  revenue  and  to  the  natives  their 
only  article  of  trade.  (I  should  except  however  a  close  grained 
wood  called  the  Yzer,  principally  used  by  the  Chinese  for 
furniture.) 

The  trade  of  the  Sambas,  consisting  chiefly  of  plain  bleached, 
unbleached  and  printed  cottons  and  calicoes,  has  been  monopolized 
by  the  English  for  many  years — the  Dutch  do  not  even  attempt  to 
compete  with  them;  the  natives  pay  in  gold;  this  metal  is  brought 
from  the  mountains  before  spoken  of  and  becomes  their  only  article 
of  commerce,  as  soon  as  freed  from  the  earth  in  which  it  is  found, 
by  the  simple  process  of  washing,  and  is  worth  eight  hundred 
rupees  or  three  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  to  the  pound.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  the  demand  on  the  part  of  the  Natives  for  cotton 
fabrics  should  be  so  inconsiderable,  as  the  navigation  of  the  River 
and  the  access  to  it  is  extremely  simple  and  uniform,  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  Natives,  if  not  naturally  docile,  are  rendered  incapable 
of  aggression  by  the  close  surveillance  of  the  Dutch  authorities, 
and  vessels  drawing  12  or  13  feet  may  ascend  with  perfect  ease  and 
safety  to  the  town  of  Sambas. 

I  transmit  herewith  a  chart  of  the  River,  which  the  Governor 
offered  to  allow  us  to  copy,  and  in  closing  my  report  I  cannot  avoid 


364  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

again  referring  to  the  kindness  of  Governor  Baumgardt,  the  frank- 
ness of  his  communications,  his  cordially  expressed  desire  that  our 
commerce  with  this  colony  should  again  be  renewed,  and  his  regret 
that  business  and  the  preparations  he  is  making  to  leave  for 
Batavia  prevented  him  from  visiting  you  on  board  the  "Consti- 
tution." I  am  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 
Captain  John  Percival,  (S)  W.  C.  Chaplin, 

Commander  U.  S.  Ship  Constitution.  Lieut. 

J.    CROSSAN    CHAPLIN, 

Lieutenant-Commander  United  States  Navy, 

Eldest  son  of 
Sarah  J.  Crossan,  William  Craig  Chaplin, 

Lieutenant  U.  S.  Navy, 
1826  to  1851. 
Born  in  Pittsburg  May  14,  1836.  Died  at  sea  Sept.  23,  1866; 

buried  in  Saint  Leonard's 
church-yard,  Sept.  24,  1866, 
Bridgetown,   Barbadoes, 
West  Indies. 
Entered  the  United  States  navy  Oct.  4,  1850. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Chaplin  was  among  the  first  to  dis- 
tinguish himself  at  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  having  an  envi- 
able reputation  for  ability  and  pluck.  At  the  time  of  his  decease 
he  was  the  executive  officer  of  the  steam-sloop  "Monocacy, "  ten 
guns  and  1,030  tons.  Commander  Carter  pays  a  tribute  to  the 
character  of  the  deceased,  "whose  record,"  he  says,  "for  daring 
and  cool  courage  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  is  not  surpassed 
by  that  of  any  other  in  the  service."  His  whole  naval  service 
covered  sixteen  years,  of  which  twelve  were  spent  at  sea. 

Navy  Department, 
June  29,  1861. 
Lieut.  J.  Crossan  Chaplin,  United  States  Steamer  Pawnee. 

Sir: — Annexed  is  an  extract  from  Commander  S.  C.  Rowan,  in 
relation  to  your  gallant  conduct  at  Mathias  Point,  on  the  27th  inst., 
when  you  had  command  of  a  detachment  from  the  U.  S.  Steamer 
Pawnee.  The  Department  highly  appreciate  your  brave  and 
heroic  bearing  on  the  trying  occasion,  and  is  happy  to  communi- 
cate to  you  the  complimentary  extract  from  the  report  of  your 
commanding  officer.  I  am  respectfully,  etc. , 

Gideon  Welles, 
Sec'y  of  the  Navy. 

EXTRACT. 

I  beg  leave  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Department  to  the  gal- 
lantry, coolness   and   presence   of  mind  of   Lieut.  Chaplin,  of  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  365 

Pawnee,  commanding  the  party  on  shore.  He  remained  steady 
and  cool  amongst  a  perfect  hail  of  musketry  from  hundreds  of 
men,  while  he  collected  his  own  people  and  made  good  his  retreat 
without  leaving  the  enemy  a  trophy  beyond  a  few  sand  bags  and 
some  axes,  and,  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  the  muskets  of  the 
wounded  men.  The  last  man  left  the  shore  with  him,  and  not 
being  able  to  swim  to  the  boat  with  his  musket,  Lieut.  Chaplin  took 
on  his  shoulders  musket  and  all  and  safely  reached  the  boat  with- 
out a  scratch,  save  a  musket-hole  through  the  top  of  his  cap.  Four 
days  later  he  was  tendered  the  command  of  the  privateer  Savannah. 
In  October,  1864,  while  in  command  of  the  United  States  Steamer 
Commodore  McDonough,  he  was  highly  complimented  by  Rear- 
Admiral  Dahlgreen  for  the  efficient  condition  of  his  ship  and  the 
good  order  of  his  crew.  In  the  hour  of  danger  his  presence  of 
mind  never  forsook  him.  Cool,  calm  and  courageous,  he  was  of 
such  stuff  as  heroes  are  made.  In  the  social  side  his  many  virtues 
shone  to  equal  advantage.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  and 
not  one  of  the  large  circle  who  shared  his  friendship  will  ever 
forget  his  genial  ways  and  warm  heart. 

IN    MEMORY   OF    THE    GALLANT    CHAPLIN. 

By  the  Hon.  Jonas  R.  McClintock. 

Latrobe,  Pa.,  Oct.  26,  1866. 
To  the  Editors  Pittsburg  Chronicle: 

The  announcement  of  the  death  of  your  lamented  young  towns- 
man, Lieut. -Commander  J.  Crossan  Chaplin,  of  the  United  States 
Navy,  at  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  W.  I.,  has  not  failed  to  fill  with 
deepest  sorrow  the  hearts  of  more  than  one  fireside  in  this  beauti- 
ful valley.  His  lamented  father,  who  was  an  ornament  to  the  pro- 
fession of  the  sailor — springing  from  the  best  blood  of  the 
Revolution — was  known  and  cherished  in  private  life  as  one  of 
nature's  noblemen.  The  gallant  son  did  not  fail  to  catch  the 
inspiration  that  distinguished  the  father  in  less  perilous  times, 
preparing  himself  on  the  first  blast  of  the  bugle  of  insurrection,  to 
assume  a  glorious  prominence,  and  do  honor  to  the  arm  of  the  serv- 
ice to  which  he  was  so  closely  wedded.  His  daring  and  chivalry 
were  the  first  to  shed  lustre  on  our  little  navy  after  the  breaking 
out  of  rebellion.  Off  Mathias  Point  he  served  with  gallant  con- 
duct. A  shell  entered  the  Valley  City,  and,  passing  through  the 
magazine,  exploded  on  the  berth-deck,  setting  it  on  fire.  James 
Crossan  Chaplin,  the  commander,  jumped  down  into  the  magazine 
himself,  and,  while  giving  directions  to  the  men  who  were  dashing 
water  on  the  fire,  passed  up  loose  cylinders  of  powder.  The  fire- 
works on  board  ignited,  and  rockets  whizzed  and  shot  ofif,  blue 
lights  blazed  up  amid  the  ammunition,  while  the  vessel  reeled  to 
the  heavy  broadsides  that  never  slackened.  The  shell  room  caught 
fire,  and  for  a  few  moments  it  seemed  as  if  the  vessel  must  be 
blown  out  of  the  water.  But  Lieut. -Commander  Chaplin  kept  the 
men  steady,  working  himself  like  a  common  sailor  to  extinguish 


366  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

the  fire.  John  Davis,  the  gunner's  mate,  seeing  the  flames  break- 
ing up  on  every  side,  jumped  on  an  open  barrel  of  powder,  and  sat 
down  on  the  head  to  cover  it  with  his  person.  Lieut. -Commander 
Chaplin  seeing  him  quietly  seated  there,  ordered  him  in  a  peremp- 
tory tone  to  get  down  and  help  put  out  the  fire.  The  brave  fellow 
replied:  "Don't  you  see,  sir,  I  can't,  for  if  I  do,  the  sparks  will  fall 
on  the  powder.  If  I  get  down,  Captain,  we  shall  all  go  up." 
Though  the  danger  was  imminent  and  the  scene  terrific,  Lieut. - 
Commander  Chaplin  could  not  refrain  from  smiling  at  the  imper- 
turbable coolness  of  the  man.  A  more  daring  act  cannot  be 
conceived,  and  he  was  promoted  for  it,  as  he  ought  to  have  been. 
The  fight  was  so  quickly  over,  that  Rear-Admiral  S.  C.  Rowan  did 
not  fire  even  his  twenty-four  rounds.  When  the  master's  mate 
planted  the  stars  and  stripes  on  the  fort,  one  long,  loud  cheer  went 
up  from  the  whole  flotilla.  The  Daiching  in  the  meantime 
grounded  in  the  Combahee,  right  under  the  guns  of  a  rebel 
battery.  Lieut. -Commander  Chaplin  fought  her  bravely  to  the 
last,  and,  when  he  found  her  a  wreck,  set  her  on  fire,  and  escaped 
with  his  crew. 

Note. — From  the  Hon.  J.  T.  Headley's  "Farragut  and  Our  Naval  Com- 
manders," pages  410,  411  and  490;  printed  1867. 

JOHN    MONTOUR    CHAPLIN. 

John  Montour  Chaplin  was  born  Jan.  5,  1849,  at  officers'  quar- 
ters, navy  yard,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  the  fourth  son  of  Sarah  J.  Crossan 
and  Lieut.  William  Craig  Chaplin,  of  the  United  States  navy.  He 
received  his  education  under  private  tutors  in  Pittsburg  and  at  the 
academy  at  Tuscarora,  Academia,  Pa.,  graduating  in  1866.  He 
then  became  confidential  clerk  to  his  uncle,  Col.  James  M.  Cooper, 
and,  resigning  his  position,  became  discount  and  bills  of  exchange 
clerk  in  the  Bank  of  Pittsburg.  After  ten  years  of  successful  work 
there,  he  became  manager  of  the  Pittsburg  clearing-house,  where 
he  remained  for  twenty-one  years  and  retired  as  assistant  manager. 
He  was  treasurer  of  the  Bankers'  and  Bank  Clerks'  mutual  benefit 
association  in  1891,  and  became  president  in  1894.  He  was  an 
active  participant  in  the  organization  of  both  the  Duquesne  and 
the  Pittsburg  clubs.  He  was  secretary  and  treasurer  and  a  member 
of  the  board  of  governors  of  the  latter  in  1879-80.  Mr.  Chaplin 
is  an  Episcopalian,  and  in  politics  a  republican. 

The  most  beautiful  place  on  Neville  island  is  that  owned  by 
John  M.  Chaplin.  He  lives  in  a  beautiful  colonial  house,  sur- 
rounded by  spacious  grounds,  winding  drives  and  walks,  and  many 
beautiful  floral  beds,  resembling  a  park.  There  are  160  trees, 
standard  and  ornamental,  some  of  which  are  very  rare,  the  entire 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  367 

grounds  being  snugly  inclosed  by  a  well-trimmed  hedge.  Mr. 
Chaplin  is  a  great  dog  fancier;  he  is  the  possessor  of  a  splendid 
"Great  Dane"  and  numerous  fox  terriers,  and,  withal,  an  historic 
homestead.  Mr.  Chaplin  is  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society 
of  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Pittsburg  chapter  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution. 

ANCESTRY    OF   JOHN    MONTOUR   CHAPLIN. 

Sarah  J.  Crossan.  M.  William  Craig  Chaplin,  Feb.  8,  1833. 

B.  Pittsburg,  Jan.  14,  181 3. 

D.  Jan.  24,  1901.     Buried  in  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

Son  of 


Harriet  Craig.  M.  John  Huntingdon  Chaplin,  July  5,  1809. 
B.  Fort  Pitt,  Dec.  25,  1785. 

D.  on  Neville  Island,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  May  6,  1867. 
-Daughter  of- 


Major  Isaac  Craig.          M.  Feb.  i,  17S5.  Amelia  Neville. 

B.  1741  in  Ireland.  B.  Winchester,  Va.,  1763. 

Came  1765  to  Philadelphia.  D.  Pittsburg, 

Lieut,  in  U.  S.  Navy,  Capt.  &  Maj.  in  U.  S.  A. 

Commander  Fort  Pitt  in  1785. 

D.  Pittsburg,  May  14,  1826. 

Buried  in  Trinity  Churchyard. 

Daughter   of 

General  John  Neville,  M.  Aug.  24,  1754, 

B.  Occoquan,  Va.,  at  Winchester,  Va. 

July  24,  1731. 
Colonel  4th  Virginia  Rgt.  during  Revolution. 
Member  Penna.  "Board  of  Property." 
Member  Penna.  "Supreme  Executive  Council." 
Member   convention    to   ratify    Federal   constitution. 
Revenue  Officer  U.  S.  during  Whiskey  Insurrection. 
Built  at  his  cost  the  first  Episcopal  Church 

west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains. 
Prominent  in  Business. 
D.  Pittsburg,  July  29,  1803. 
Buried  in  Trinity  Churchyard. 

Son  of 

Richard  Neville  of  Va.  and  Anna  Burroughs, 

Cousin  to  Lord  Fairfax. 
See  Pages 478-9  of  "Egle's  Penna.  Genealogy." 


368  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

ANCESTRY  OF 
JOHN  MONTOUR  CHAPLIN. 

Fourth    Son  of 


Lieut.  Wrn.  Craig  Chaplin,  U.  S.  Navy,  in  sea,  shore  or  special. 

B.  Pittsburg,  April  ii,  1810. 

D.  April  25,1856.  at  the  Charlestown  Navy  Yard,  Boston,  Mass. 

John  Huntingdon  Chaplin,  atty.  at  Law. 

B. 

D.  at  Pensacola,  Fla.,  18 — . 

Son  of 


Benjamin  Chaplin.  M. 

B. 

D.  Royalton,  Vermont. 


Winifred  Oldham. 
B.  Winchester,  1736. 
D.  Pittsburg,    1787. 
Buried  in  Trinity  Churchyard. 
-iDaughter     of- 


Anna  Conway         and  John  Oldham, 
of  Virginia.               B.  in  Virginia,  1705. 
Son     of  — 


Colonel  Samuel  Oldham.      M.  Elizabeth  Newton. 
B.  Westmoreland  Co.,  1680.      B.  Wilmington,  Va. ,  1687. 
D.  Westmoreland  Co.,  1762.      D.  i759- 

Daugfhter  of 


Son  of John  Newton. 

Thomas  Oldham  of  Va.  Son     of     Willoughby     Newton. 

Son  of   John    Oldham 

who  came  to  Virginia  in  March,  1635. 
vSee  Penna.  Genealogy,  page  479. 

Son     of 


Christopher  Huntingdon. 

B.  in  England. 

Came  to  Rockberry,   Mass.,   163-. 

Came  to  Norwich,  Conn.,  1660. 

D.  Norwich,  Conn.,  June  28,  1706. 

Son  of 


Simon  Huntingdon.  M.  Margt.  Barfet 

B.  in  England.  of    Norwich, 

D.  in    ship    off   coast  England, 
of  Massachusetts,  1633. 


Service  from  1826  to  185  i. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


369 


Amanda  Sarah  Huntingdon. 
B    Windham,  Conn.,  June  26, 
D.  Allegheny,  Pa. 

-Daughter  of- 


1  761. 


Colonel  Jabez  Huntingdon.         M.  Aug.  6,  1760. 

B.  Windham,  Conn.,  1738. 

Graduated  at  Yale,  1758. 

Member  Conn.  Council,  1764-81. 

High  Sheriff,  1782. 

D.  Nov.  24,  1782. 

Son  of 


General  Jabez  Huntingdon.         < 

B.  Norwich,  Conn.,  Jan.  26,  1691. 

D.  Norwich,  Sept.  25,  1752. 

Very  prominent  in  civil   and  military 

Married  May  21,  1725. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Wetmore. 

B.  1700. 

D.  Norwich,  Conn.,  March  21,  1783. 


General  Jabez  Huntingdon. 
Son    of 


ife. 


Christopher  Huntingdon.      M.  May  26,  1681, 

B.  Nov.  I,  1660. 

D.  April  24,  1735, 

at  Norwich,  Conn. 

Deacon,    1695-1735. 

First  Townsman,  1695-1709. 

Large  landholder. 

M.  1652.  Ruth  Rockwell, 

of  Windsor,  Conn. 

B.  England,  Aug.  i,  1633. 

Daughter  of 

Wm.  Rockwell.  M.  April  14,  1624,     S 


Sarah  Adgate, 
B.  Jan.,  1663. 
D.  Feb.,  1706, 
at  Norwich. 


-Daughter  of- 


Came  over  in  the 
"Mary  and  John. ' 


in  England. 


lussanan  Chapin. 

B.  Dorchester, 

England. 


William  Rockwell  was  a  Puritan,  who,  in  1630,  with  140  families, 
organized  into  a  church  and  left  England  for  America.  His 
family  is  of  Norman  origin,  running  back  to  Sir  Ralph  de  Rock- 
ville,  a  knight  of  the  loth  century.  The  widow  of  William  Rock- 
well afterwards  married  a  member  of  this  colony,  Matthew  Grant, 
the  ancestor  of  General  and  President  U.  S.  Grant.  See  "Savage's 
Genealogical  Dictionary,"  Vol.  3,  page  558,  also  "Rockwell  Family 
in'America,  from  1630  till  1873." 


370  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Judith  Elderkin. 

B.  Norwich,  Conn.,  1743- 

D.  Sept.  24,  1786. 

-Daughter   of- 


Colonel  Jedediah  Elderkin,  of  Norwich,  Conn. 
Attorney  of  Colony  of  Connecticut,  member  of 
"Committee  of  Safety"  under  Governor  Trum- 
bull during-  Revolution;  very  prominent  in  civil 
and  military  affairs.  Died  at  Windham,  Conn. 
He  descended  from 

John  Elderkin,  of  England,  who  came  to  Massa- 
chusetts in  1637,  and  Norwich,  Conn.,  1664. 
Married  1660  Elizabeth,  widow  of  William 
Gaylord,  of  Windsor,  Conn. 
He  died  at  Norwich,  June  23,  1687,  aged  71. 
See  "Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary." 


Deacon 

Thomas  Adgate  M.  1660         Mrs.  Mary  Bushnell, 

of  Saybrook,  Con.  widow  of  Richard  Bushnell. 

one  of  the  original  Born  Mary  Marvin, 

proprietors  of  Norwich,  in  England,  1629. 

Con. 

D.  July,  1707. Daughter  of- 


Matthew  Marvin.        M. Elizabeth 

Born  in  England. 
Came  to  America,  1635. 
Mem.  Genl.  Council  of 
Connecticut,  1654. 
Died  1687. 

See  "Marvin  Genealogy,"  Boston,  1848,  pages 
3,  4,  37,  38. 

JAMES   CROSSAN    CHAPLIN. 

Among  the  successful  young  business  men  of  whom  Sewickley 
is  justly  proud,  Mr.  James  Crossan  Chaplin  holds  a  prominent 
place.  He  has  been  a  business  man  since  his  fifteenth  year,  and 
has  made  a  record  that  boys  ought  to  know.  Mr.  Chaplin  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  Sept.  7,  1863,  his  parents  being  James  Crossan 
Chaplin,  lieutenant-commander  United  States  navy,  and  Martha 
(Harris)  Chaplin.  When  Mr.  Chaplin  was  three  years  old,  his- 
father  died,  leaving  three  children,  whose  early  years  were  spent 
in  Missouri.  In  1879  Mrs.  Chaplin  removed  to  Sewickley,  and 
James  accepted  a  position  in  the  Citizens'  National  bank,  where 
he  occupied  several  positions.  He  resigned  in  order  to  accept  a 
better  position  in  the  Fidelity  title  and  trust  company,  remaining 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


371 


there  for  about  ten  years— first  as  teller,  then  as  treasurer— and 
upon  the  formation  of  the  Colonial  trust  company,  he  was 
appointed  its  vice-president.  In  Sewickley  Mr.  Chaplin  has  always 
been  interested  in  local  politics;  he  filled  two  terms  in  the  council, 
and  is  now  its  president.  He  is  a  vestryman  and  the  treasurer  of 
St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  is  connected  with 
a  number  of  business  enterprises  and  director  of  several  financial 
institutions.  In  society,  Mr.  Chaplin  and  his  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Fanny  Campbell,  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  David  Campbell,  are  as 
prominent  as  Mr.  Chaplin  is  in  business  circles. 

Mr.  Chaplin's  grandfather  was  William  Craig  Chaplin,  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  United  States  navy,  1826  to  185 1,  His  grandmother 
was  Sarah  J.  Crossan,  daughter  of  James  Crossan.  Mr.  Chaplin 
comes  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Pittsburg,  a  descendant  from 
officers  prominent  in  Revolutionary  times.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Pittsburg  chapter  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution. 


JULIUS  GOTTFRIED,  wholesale 
liquor  dealer  in  Carnegie,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  the  Rhine,  Germany, 
Aug.  6,  1857.  His  parents  were  Fred- 
erick and  Amelia  (Wuesthoff)  Gottfried, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  where  Mr. 
Gottfried  was  a  postmaster  and  after- 
wards a  silk-weaver  and  served  for  a  time 
in  the  German  army.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1863,  arriving  in  July 
of  that  year,  while  his  family  landed  in 
New  York  on  September  9th  of  the  same 
year.  After  a  short  residence  in  Yon- 
kers,  N.  Y.,  and  Springfield,  111.,  Mr.  Gottfried  came  to  Pittsburg 
in  1865,  arriving  on  the  day  that  President  Lincoln  was  shot.  He 
was  ever  afterwards  a  resident  of  Allegheny  county,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  from  July,  1873,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  3,  1884.  He  was  born  Jan.  6,  1829. 
His  wife  was  born  April  30,  1829,  and  died  Jan.  29,  1886,  Both 
were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
Julius  Gottfried,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Gottfried.  Ferdinand,  who  was 
born  in  1848,  died  Nov.  9,  187 1,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  of  black  small- 
pox, and  Arnoldina  died  when  three  and  a  half  years  old.     Julius 


372  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Gottfried  attended  the  schools  of  the  sixth  ward,  Pittsburg,  and  at 
an  early  age  went  to  work  as  messenger  boy  for  the  old  Pacific  & 
Atlantic  telegraph  company,  remaining  at  this  position  from  Octo- 
ber, 1869,  until  the  spring  of  1871.  He  then  went  to  work  for  a 
branch  office  of  the  firm  of  Virtue  &  Yarston,  New  York  publish- 
ers, where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  then  entered  the  employ 
of  G.  J.  Young  &  Sons,  show-case  manufacturers,  remaining  in  the 
employ  of  this  firm  until  1874.  The  next  year  he  spent  as  a  cigar- 
maker,  and  then  worked  as  a  bar-tender  for  several  years,  and  on 
July  3,  1877,  started  for  himself  in  the  saloon  business  in  Pitts- 
burg. In  April,  1878,  Mr.  Gottfried  took  charge  of  Uncle  Sam's 
hotel  at  New  Castle,  Pa.,  and  a  few  months  later  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  had  charge  of  the  Manning  house  until  Jan.  i, 
1 88 1.  At  this  time,  in  company  with  his  father,  he  opened  a  hotel 
at  No.  364  Fifth  Ave.,  Pittsburg,  but  discontinued  it  a  short  time 
afterwards,  and,  on  March  25,  1881,  took  charge  of  the  White  house 
at  Perrysville,  Allegheny  county,  and  remained  there  until  Sept.  9, 
1884,  when  he  moved  to  the  sixth  ward,  Pittsburg,  and  continued 
in  the  hotel  business  until  March  10,  1886,  and  then  became  Pitts- 
burg collector  for  the  Crescent  brewing  company,  of  Aurora,  Ind. 
From  June,  1887,  to  July  5,  1889,  Mr.  Gottfried  was  employed  as  a 
hotel  clerk,  and  then  opened,  in  his  own  name,  a  wholesale  liquor 
business  in  Carnegie,  and  continued  the  business  until  April  30, 

1 89 1.  He   then   started  a  restaurant,  which   he  ran  until  May  i, 

1892,  when  he  returned  to  the  hotel  business,  and  was  manager  of 
the  Commercial  house,  at  Carnegie,  until  Oct.  2,  1894.  He  then 
became  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Rockford  chair  and  furniture 
company,  of  Rockford,  111.,  and  later  was  salesman  on  the  road  for 
A.  Wolf  &  Co.,  wholesale  liquor  dealers  of  Pittsburg.  On 
Aug.  21,  1897,  Mr.  Gottfried  embarked  in  his  present  business  as  a 
wholesale  liquor  dealer  in  Carnegie,  and  has  been  successful.  On 
Jan.  6,  1881,  Mr,  Gottfried  married  Miss  Catherine  Schmidt, 
daughter  of  J.  Wolfgang  and  Margaret  (Thoma)  Schmidt.  Mr. 
Schmidt  died  Nov.  7,  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  His  wife  died 
in  1864.  Mrs.  Gottfried  has  six  brothers  and  sisters  living — George, 
John,  Elizabeth,  Anna,  Lucy  and  Andrew.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gottfried  as  follows:  Amelia  A.,  stenog- 
rapher and  type'writer  for  the  United  States  cast-iron  pipe  and 
foundry  company,  of  Scottdale;  Selma  L.,  a  student  in  bookkeep- 
ing; Laura  L.  E,,  stenographer  and  typewriter;  Julius  E.  and 
Herbert  E.  Mr.  Gottfried  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.     Mr.    Gottfried  is  prominent  in  several  select 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  373 

societies,  being  a  member  of  Centennial  lodge,  No.  544,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  and  Cyrus  chapter,  No  280,  R.  A.  M. ;  past  chief  of  Mount 
Moriah  lodge,  No.  360,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  past  chief  of  Marshfield 
castle,  No.  476,-  K.  of  G.  E. 

DR.  J.  A.  BURGOON,  the  eminent 
Pittsburg  specialist  and  president  of  the 
Burgoon  medicine  company,  located  at 
No.  126  Sheridan  St.,  East  End,  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  March  12,  1842,  in  Clarion 
county.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Dennis 
Burgoon,  the  name  formerly  spelled  Bur- 
goyne,  of  French  extraction,  and  Susanna 
(Short)  Burgoon.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Clarion  county,  later  tak- 
ing up  the  study  of  medicine,  and  gradu- 
ating from  the  Pennsylvania  medical 
college  in  1870.  Dr.  Burgoon  was  mar- 
ried, Sept.  II,  1866,  to  Sybilla  Aaron,  daughter  of  a  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Clarion  county,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, 
Peter  A.  and  George  A.,  both  of  whom  are  now  in  business  for 
themselves  in  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Burgoon  came  to  Allegheny  city  in 
1888,  locating  on  the  spot  where  the  postoffice  now  stands,  and 
remaining  there  for  four  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  a  more 
central  position,  No.  907  Penn  Ave.,  and  still  later  to  No.  126 
Sheridan  St.,  East  End.  Dr.  Burgoon  is  one  of  Pittsburg's  self- 
made  men.  When  he  came  to  Allegheny  city,  in  1888,  he  had  little 
beside  his  rugged  energy,  his  knowledge  of  his  profession  and  an 
indomitable  will.  After  prospering  some  years,  he  sold  half  inter- 
est in  his  Allegheny  laboratory  for  a  big  sum,  being  in  the  end 
dragged  down  by  a  bank  failure.  Dr.  Burgoon's  never-give-up 
spirit  exerted  itself,  and  he  started  a  second  time  in  Pittsburg, 
where  he  soon  began  to  build  up  the  fortune  and  success  which 
have  followed.  The  Chicago  Trade  Review  says  of  him:  "A  few 
years  ago  Dr.  Burgoon  started  in  business  penniless,  with  no  stock 
in  trade  but  an  honorable  and  untarnished  name — a  reputation 
for  sterling  honesty  and  unlimited  ambition  and  energy — to-day 
his  position  is  a  proud  one  indeed — his  name  an  honored  one 
wherever  known — a  loved  and  a  revered  name  wherever  the  merits 
of  his  remedies  have  penetrated — a  blessed  name  in  thousands  of 
homes  where  loved  ones  have  been  brought  up  from  the  dark 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  once  more  to  take  their  place  at  the 


374  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

family  fireside,  thanks  to  the  marvelous  power  of  those  remedies 
which  he  alone  prepares.  A  few  years  ago,  an  unknown  physi- 
cian— to-day,  the  peer  of  the  highest  in  the  land.  A  few  years 
ago,  the  compounder  of  medicine  in  a  small  way — to-day,  with 
facilities  increased  a  thousand  fold,  unable  to  meet  the  demand. 
A  few  years  ago,  in  an  obscure  position — to-day,  in  a  commanding 
one.  He  owns  and  operates  the  Hutchison  cancer  hospital  at 
Sewickley,  a  very  noted  and  modern  one  in  every  way,  and  is  the 
discoverer  and  owner  of  the  only  positive  and  sure  cure  for  cancer, 
and  has  hundreds  of  cures  of  malignant  cancers  to  attest  to  this 
statement.  Not  by  idleness  and  wishing  for  success,  not  by  look- 
ing back  to  count  the  milestones  or  looking  forward  with  fear  to  the 
vista  of  the  future,  has  Dr.  Burgoon  attained  the  pinnacle  of  a  noble 
ambition,  but  by  unceasing  work  has  he  earned  name,  fame,  emol- 
ument and  glory.  It  was  such  men  and  such  careers  as  Dr. 
Burgoon's  that  the  poet  had  in  mind  when  he  said: 

"  'The  heights  of  great  men,  gained  and  kept, 
Were  not  attained  by  sudden  flight, 
But  they,  while  their  companions  slept, 
Were  toiling  upward  in  the  night.'  " 

©JUDGE  JACOB  JAY  MILLER,  a 
native  of  Somerset  county,  where  he  was 
born  in  1857,  came  to  Pittsburg  many 
years  ago,  and  has  become  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  Pittsburg  spirit.  He  is 
the  son  of  the  late  Jacob  D.  Miller,  a 
resident  of  Somerset  county  and  a  min- 
ister in  the  German  Baptist  church.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools,  later  attending  the  Indiana  State 
normal  school  at  Indiana,  Pa.,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
187Q,  at  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He 
began  teaching  in  the  public  school  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  closing 
-his  teaching  career  as  principal  of  the  sixteenth  ward  schools  of 
Pittsburg.  He  read  law  in  the  offices  of  ex- Judge  W.  J.  Baer,  of 
Somerset,  and,  in  1881,  decided  to  cast  his  lot  in  Pittsburg.  In 
1 884  Mr.  Miller  was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar,  and  two 
years  later  took  a  course  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Virginia.  He  had  become  acquainted  with  the  city  during  his  three 
years'  experience  in  teaching  (from  1881  to  1S84),  and  on  returning  to 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  375 

Pittsburg  to  open  his  office,  he  was  already  prepared  to  cope  with 
the  conditions  as  they  existed.  Clients  were  few  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  his  career,  but  while  he  waited  he  studied,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  he  had  more  than  he  could  do.  In  1901  he  formed  a 
partnership,  which  was  known  as  Miller,  Prestley  &  Nesbit,  both 
of  his  partners  studying  law  under  him.  In  1902  Mr.  Miller  was 
elevated  to  the  bench  as  judge  of  the  Orphans'  court  for  a  term  of 
ten  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  democrat,  and  it  is  not  a  little 
significant  that  he  was  chosen  from  a  strong  republican  section. 
Judge  Miller  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  his 
voice  has  been  heard  in  the  service  of  his  party  during  many  cam- 
paigns. The  Duquesne  club,  the  Pittsburg  club  and  the  Junta 
club  are  places  where  Judge  Miller  is  well  known,  being  a  member 
of  all  three.  He  is  also  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a  member  of 
the  Duquesne  lodge,  the  Pittsburg  chapter  and  Tancred  com- 
mandery.  He  is  also  active  in  church  work,  being  a  vestryman  in 
Calvary  Episcopal  church,  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  diocese  of  Pittsburg,  and  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors of  Kingsley  house.  In  1894  he  was  married  to  Annie  M. 
Clark,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Silas  M.  Clark,  of  Indiana, 
who,  from  1882  to  1S91,  was  a  supreme  court  justice.  His  family 
consists  of  himself,  his  wife  and  one  son,  Clark  Miller. 


EDWIN    COLLINS    HASLETT    is  a 
prominent  real  estate  dealer  of  Allegheny 
f^^'-^-nm/^  county,  and  is  the  son  of  George  M.  and 

^  ^™  Clarion  W.  Haslett,  the  former  a  native 

of  Pittsburg,    Pa.,  and  the  latter  of  St. 
Louis,    Mo.       His    father  was    for   many 
years   connected  with   river   navigation, 
^^^yl^f ^^  beginning    as    a   cabin    boy    and    filling 

^^^^^^hB^^^        nearly  every  position  on  a  steamboat  up 
'^^^K^^^^Kt        to   that   of    captain.     He   died   in    1892. 
^^tftlStffw  Ldwin   Collins   Haslett  was  born  in  the 

\   -^Prf  .f^  ^.^y   ^^   Pittsburg,    Aug.    II,    1865.     His 

education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  city  and  at  Curry  institute.  Upon  finishing  his  edu- 
cation, he  learned  the  business  of  photographer,  followed  it  for  a 
number  of  years,  and,  in  1899,  turned  his  attention  to  real  estate, 
his  greatest  undertaking  along  the  new  line  being  the  founding  of 
Lincoln  Place.  Securing  possession  of  106  acres  of  land  lying  eight 
miles  from  Pittsburg,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Homestead  and 


376 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


three  miles  from  McKeesport,  he  platted  it  and  placed  it  on  the 
market  as  a  residence  suburb.  With  that  energy  which  has  always 
characterized  his  undertakings,  he  has  made  Lincoln  Place  one  of 
the  most  popular  residence  districts  in  Allegheny  county.  More 
than  half  of  the  lots  have  been  sold,  several  fine  residences  have 
been  built,  streets  have  been  improved,  churches  and  schools 
established,  and  a  postoffice  secured,  all  of  which  has  been  chiefly 
through  his  influence  or  by  his  efforts.  In  November,  1892,  Mr. 
Haslett  was  married  to  Lulu,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Louisa 
Platts,  of  Pittsburg.  They  have  five  children,  Grace,  Margaret, 
Edwin  C,  Lulu  and  George.  Mr.  Haslett  is  a  member  of  the  Pen- 
tecostal church.  He  affiliates  with  the  republican  party  politically, 
though  he  is  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  principles  of  prohibition. 
In  this  regard  he  teaches  by  example  as  well  as  precept,  for  he  is  a 
man  of  temperate  habits,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited"  men  in  the  beautiful  suburb  he 
established. 


ROBERT  BRINTON  KENNEDY,  of 
Whitaker,  Pa.,  a  valued  employe  of  the 
Pressed  Steel  car  company,  Carnegie 
office  of  Homestead,  was  born  at  Fayette 
City,  Pa.,  July  23,  1867,  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Stockdale)  Kennedy,  natives  of 
Washington  county,  Pa.,  and  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Isaac  Kennedy,  a  miller  by  trade  and  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Fayette  county. 
Pa. ,  married  Lydia  Short,  and  was  one 
of  the  prominent  figures  of  his  day.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Allen  Stockdale, 
was  a  native  of  Washington,  Pa.,  a  stonemason  by  trade,  and  mar- 
ried Letitia  Allen.  John  Kennedy,  father  of  the  subject,  "fol- 
lowed the  river"  for  years,  beginning  at  the  very  bottom  and  rising 
to  the  rank  of  captain,  from  which  position  he  retired  in  1883,  and 
since  1901  has  resided  at  Whitaker.  Captain  Kennedy  had  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz. :  Joseph, 
William,  Isaac,  John,  Lewis  (deceased),  Albert,  Robert  B. ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Joseph  Hite;  Azadell,  wife  of  C.  L.  Wilson.  Robert  B. 
Kennedy  was  reared  in  western  Pennsylvania  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  the  Iron  City  business  college  of  Pittsburg, 
where  he  was  graduated  in   1888.     He  began  his  business  career 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  377 

as  a  clerk,  and  has  filled  his  present  position  with  the  Pressed 
Steel  car  company  since  1900.  Mr.  Kennedy  has  been  a  resident 
of  Whitaker  since  1901,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  Whitaker  tent, 
No.  425,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  of  which  tent  he  was  the  first 
record  keeper.  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  and  in  the  spring-  of  1903  was  appointed  clerk  of 
Mifflin  township  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  showing  the  regard  in 
which  he  is  held  in  the  community. 

CHRISTIAN  F.  VONDERA,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  a  retired  shoe  merchant 
and  a  prominent  citizen,  was  born  in 
Baldwin  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
March  27,  1852,  son  of  Henry  and 
Christiana  Wilhelmina  (Heisterberg) 
Vondera,  both  natives  of  Germany.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Frederick  Vondera, 
came  to  America  about  1861,  and  resided 
in  the  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  until  his 
death.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
Christian  Heisterberg,  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1849,  locating  in  Blossom- 
ville,  Baldwin  township,  Allegheny  county,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  of  shoemaking.  The  father  of  the  subject  was  also  a  shoe- 
maker, and  came  to  Pennsylvania  from  the  Fatherland  in  1847, 
settled  in  Baldwin  township,  and  was  there  engaged  in  business  for 
some  time.  In  the  fall  of  1863  Henry  Vondera  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  in  Mifflin  township,  now  known  as  the  Vondera  place,  and 
there  resided  until  his  death,  in  1897,  at  the  mature  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following  children:  Christian 
F. ;  Frank  H. ;  Lena,  wife  of  Frank  Bost;  Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Sorg; 
Charles  H.,  and  Louise,  wife  of  William  Hall.  Christian  F. 
Vondera  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county,  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  began  his  business  career  on  his  father's  farm.  In 
1880  he  began  the  shoe  business  at  Homestead,  in  which  he  was 
successfully  engaged  until  1897,  when  he  retired,  and  since  has 
resided  at  the  old  Vondera  place.  He  was  married,  on  Oct.  3,  1878, 
to  Caroline,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Mary  (Muth)  Keitzer,  of 
Baldwin  township,  Allegheny  county,  and  they  have  four  living 
children,  viz.:  Henry  C,  William  E.,  Annie  C.  and  Margaret  M. 
Mrs.  Vondera's  paternal  grandparents  were  Henry  and  Margaret 
Keitzer,  of  Hesse    Darmstadt,   Germany,  who  settled  in    Baldwin 


378  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

township,  Allegheny  county,  about  1845,  ^^'^  there  Henry  Keitzer 
and  his  son,  Conrad,  engaged  in  their  trade  of  wagon-making  with 
much  success.  Mr,  Vondera  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  and  he  is  a  stanch  republican  in  his 
political  convictions  and  associations. 

JOHN  McGROGAN,  locomotive  en- 
gineer, residing  at  No.  323  Second  Ave., 
Carnegie,  was  born  in  Beaver  county, 
Pa.,  Feb,  4,  i860.  His  parents,  John 
and  Joanna  McGrogan,  natives  of  Ire- 
land, came  to  America  on  a  sailing  vessel 
in  1S45,  and  after  landing  in  New  York, 
proceeded  directly  to  Allegheny  county, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days,  Mr.  McGrogan  following  the  voca- 
tion of  a  miner.  Both  are  now  dead;  the 
father  died  when  sixty-five  years  old, 
March  14,  1895,  and  his  wife  in  1862,  at 
the  age  of  thirty.  They  were  earnest,  hard-working  people,  and 
devoted  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Besides  John 
McGrogan,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  they  reared  three  other  chil- 
dren: James,  who  lives  at  Walker's  Mills;  William,  a  resident  of 
West  Newton,  Westmoreland  county,  and  Margaret,  now  Mrs. 
Constantine  Gallager,  of  West  End,  Pittsburg.  John  McGrogan 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Allegheny  county,  and, 
after  school  days,  worked  for  a  time  with  his  father  in  the  mines. 
On  Feb.  4,  1884,  he  became  a  railroad  fireman,  and  on  Nov.  16, 
1SS8,  was  given  charge  of  an  engine.  He  has  been  a  locomotive 
engineer  ever  since,  always  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road company,  and  is  widely  known  as  a  man  of  unusual  skill  and 
ability  in  his  profession.  He  is  employed  on  the  Carnegie  wreck 
train,  and  has  associated  with  him  in  the  wreck  crew,  Messrs.  C.  C. 
Elwarner  and  E.  M.  Meyers,  whose  biographies  appear  elsewhere 
in  this  book.  Mr.  McGrogan  was  married,  June  i6,  1886,  to  Miss 
Anna  McCaffrey,  a  native  of  Carnegie,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  McCaffrey,  both  now  deceased.  They  were  members  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Besides  Mrs.  McGrogan,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McCaffrey  were  the  parents  of  four  other  children,  all  living: 
Charles,  a  resident  of  West  Newton,  foreman  for  the  Pittsburg 
coal  company;  Simon  P.,  foreman  for  the  Pittsburg  coal  company 
at  Bridgeville,   Pa. ;  James,   a    railway  conductor,   and   William,   a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  379 

roller  at  McKeesport.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGrogan  have  seven  chil- 
dren: Frances,  Joseph  V.,  Kitty,  Madaline,  Irene,  George  and 
John.  Mr.  McGrogan  is  interested  in  local  politics,  and  is  a  promi- 
nent and  popular  man  in  the  community.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

CHRISTIAN  REUKAUF,  a  promi- 
nent merchant  of  the  twelfth  ward,  Alle- 
gheny city,  was  born  in  Saxony,  in  the 
southern  part  of  Germany,  on  July  15, 
1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Valentine. Reukauf, 
an  old  warrior  who  fought  under  Napo- 
leon, and  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Christus.  His  occupation  was  farming, 
which  he  did  on  a  large  scale,  raising  many 
horses  and  cattle  in  connection  with  his 
agriculture.  He  became  wealthy  in  his 
vocation,  leaving  a  considerable  share  to 
each  of  eleven  children.  Valentine  Reu- 
kauf was  educated  in  the  village  school,  which  was  unusually 
thorough  at  that  time,  leaving  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
for  the  life  of  a  soldier,  which  he  followed  for  eighteen  years. 
He  was  married  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  to  Rossina  Miller,  born 
in  1805,  daughter  of  John  Miller,  the  burgomeister  of  Christus 
and  a  well-known  and  respected  citizen.  Christian  Reukauf's 
paternal  grandfather  was  Michael  Reukauf,  a  native  of  Christus. 
Christian  Reukauf  came  to  this  country  in  1850,  landed  in  New 
York  but  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  married  and 
resided  fourteen  years.  He  had  learned  the  tailor  trade  in  Ger- 
many, but  after  coming  to  Philadelphia  learned  the  whip-making 
trade,  working  for  the  Bader  &  Adamson  whip  com^pany  for  seven 
years.  He  then  learned  to  boil  glue,  working  at  that  another 
seven  years.  After  this  they  moved  to  Pittsburg,  and  thence  to 
Allegheny  city,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Reukauf  also 
learned  the  tanners'  trade,  being  in  the  employ  of  Lappe  &  Hax, 
tanners,  remaining  with  them  for  sixteen  years.  He  then  went 
into  the  grain  business  and  has  prospered  sufiticiently  to  warrant 
his  continuance  in  that  line.  Mr.  Reukauf  was  married  in  1850  to 
Mary  Steinbacher,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  Michael 
Steinbacher,  who  came  from  near  Wittenburg,  Germany.  To 
them  were  born  eight  children,  four  of  v;hom  are  deceased.  Those 
living  are:  William,  the  eldest,   a  member  of  the  fire  department 


380  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

in  Allegheny,  married  and  has  three  children;  Harry,  foreman  in 
McKinney's  hinge  factory,  also  married  and  has  two  children; 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  Riefer,  of  Allegheny,  has  three  children;  and 
Clara,  now  Mrs.  Fred  Streiner,  living  with  her  father,  and  the 
mother  of  four  children.  Those  who  are  deceased  were  four  sons: 
John,  Eddie,  Charlie  and  Augustus.  Mrs.  Reukauf  died  in  1902, 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a  woman  who  was 
admired  for  her  noble  Christian  character,  her  acts  of  kindness  and 
charity,  and  for  her  intelligence.  She  reared  her  children  in  the 
German  Evangelical  faith.  Mr.  Reukauf  is  a  man  of  fine  physique 
and  robust  health,  having  never  been  sick  in  his  life.  In  politics, 
he  has  been  a  republican  since  coming  to  this  country,  having 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  All  his  sons  are  also 
republicans,  Mr.  Reukauf  has  been  elected  member  of  the  board 
of  control  in  the  twelfth  ward  and  was  selected  as  president  of  the 
board  of  control  of  the  twelfth  ward  public  schools  in  March,  1902. 
The  K.  of  P.  is  the  only  secret  organization  which  claims  him  as  a 
member.  Mr.  Reukauf  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  reliable  cit- 
izens of  the  city  and  is  known  as  a  man  of  honor  and  integrity. 

JACOB    TRESSEL,    the    genial    and 
popular  proprietor  of  the  Seventh  Avenue 
hotel,   Homestead,  Pa.,  is  an  ideal  land- 
lord.      Courteous    and    attentive    to   the 
wants  of  his  guests,  he  has  made  many 
b?"*        %...4-,       ^^^H     friends  by  his   good-natured   disposition 
■i^;^     vH^  .^^^^m     ^^^  ^^^  skill  displayed  in  caring  for  his 
^^s'' "  Jt^^M^^^^^m     patrons.     His  chief  ambition  seems  to  be 
W^    ^-A  ^^^V      the  desire  to  please,  and  to  see  that  none 

go  away  from  his  house  dissatisfied.  As 
a  result,  his  table  is  surpassed  by  none  in 
the  city,  and  his  cafe  is  patronized  by  the 
best  people  of  Homestead  and  vicinity. 
He  was  born  at  Canton,  Ohio,  Oct.  8,  1869.  His  parents  were 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Siebert)  Tressel,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  the  latter  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  though  of  German  ancestry. 
Jacob  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at 
an  early  age  he  manifested  an  inclination  to  engage  in  the  hotel 
business.  His  first  experience  in  this  line  was  as  an  employe  of 
the  Hotel  Anderson,  at  Pittsburg.  Later  he  was  at  the  Palmer 
house,  Chicago,  and  the  Herald  Square  hotel,  New  York  city.  In 
these  celebrated  hostelries  he  learned   all   the  details  of  the  busi- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  381 

ness,  and,  in  1900,  assumed  the  management  of  the  Altamonte 
house,  Altoona,  Pa.  A  year  later  he  became  the  proprietor  of  the 
Seventh  Avenue  hotel  at  Homestead,  which  he  has  sines  success- 
fully conducted,  the  popularity  of  the  house  increasing  almost  daily. 
Mr.  Tressel  was  married,  Feb.  8,  1894,  to  Miss  Mary  Burgin,  a 
daughter  of  Rudolph  L.  and  Mary  (Hoffer)  Burgin,  of  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.  He  is  a  stanch  republican  in  politics,  but  has  never 
been  a  candidate  for  any  office,  finding  more  pleasure  and  profit  in 
catering  to  the  wants  of  the  traveling  public.  He  belongs  to  Cap 
Sheaf  lodge,  No.  159,  Order  of  Heptasophs,  Pittsburg,  where  he  is 
always  welcomed  as  one  of  its  most  popular  members. 

JOSEPH  MacMATH,  the  genial  pro- 
prietor of  the  Hotel  MacMath,  was  born 
in  County  Durham,  England,  Feb.  18, 
1864,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Margaret 
(Blackley)  MacMath.  His  father  was  a 
full-blooded  Scotchman,  and  his  mother 
was  an  Englishwoman.  An  accident  in 
the  mines  in  England  caused  the  death 
of  James  MacMath,  and  his  wife,  with 
three  children,  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled at  Lock  No.  3,  on  the  Monongahela 
river,  in  JeflEerson  township,  Allegheny 
Co.,  Pa.  There  the  children  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  Elizabeth  is  now  the  wife  of  John 
Keennist;  Maggie  is  the  wife  of  John  Wilson,  and  Joseph,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  is  a  resident  of  Homestead.  During  his  first 
years  in  America,  Joseph  attended  the  public  schools  of  Jefferson 
township,  but  in  order  to  assist  his  mother  in  providing  for  her 
family,  he  went  to  work  when  he  was  but  eleven  years  old.  In 
1886  he  located  at  Homestead,  and  for  three  years  was  employed  in 
the  Homestead  steel  works.  He  next  engaged  in  the  occupation 
of  bartender,  which  he  followed  until  1897,  when  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself,  and  since  that  time  he  has  successfully  con- 
ducted the  Hotel  MacMath,  one  of  the  leading  hostelries  of  the  city 
of  Homestead.  He  was  married,  June  4,  1891,  to  Miss  Jennie  E., 
the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mary  Keltz,  of  Derry,  Pa.  They 
have  three  children,  Mearna,  Walter  and  Harry.  Mr.  MacMath  is 
prominent  in  secret  and  benevolent  society  work,  being  a  member 
of  Homestead  lodge.  No.  479,  and  Uniform  rank.  No.  37,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias;   Homestead  lodge.    No.    650,   B.   P.  O.  Elks; 


382  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Gray  Eagle  tribe,  No.  393,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men;  Monon- 
gahela  council,  No.  123,  degree  of  Pocahontas,  I.  O.  R.  M. ; 
Homestead  lodge,  No.  253,  F.  of  A. ;  Mizpah  lodge,  No.  2324, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  and  Clan  MacKenzie.  In  all  these 
orders  and  societies  he  is  an  honorable  and  honored  member.  He 
also  takes  an  active  interest  in  political  afiairs,  in  which  he  is 
always  identified  with  the  republican  party, 

B.  O.   FAIR,  a  merchant  in  Glenfield 

thorough,  Allegheny  county,  son  of  Philip 
and  Nancy  J.  Fair,  of  Armstrong  county, 
was  born  Nov.  10,  1875,  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Washington  town- 
ship. He  spent  his  first  fourteen  years 
on  the  farm,  and  then  became  a  clerk  in 
his  brother's  store  in  Irondale,  Ohio. 
After  seven  years  as  clerk,  he  and  his 
brother,  Ross,  bought  the  stock  of  goods 
of  the  brother  George,  forming  a  partner- 
ship under  the  firm  name  of  Fair  Bros. 
After  a  short  time  the  firm  sold  the  stock 
again  to  the  brother,  George  Fair,  B.  O.  Fair  accepting  a  clerkship 
with  the  People's  company  store,  of  New  Cumberland,  W. 
Va.,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  again  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  under  the  old  firm  name  of  Fair  Bros.,  in  a 
general  store,  and  after  two  years  again  dissolved  partnership 
to  go  into  business  for  himself  in  the  grocery  and  fresh  meat  lines, 
in  Verona,  Pa.  In  1900  he  bought  the  stock  of  goods  of  T.  Philips 
&  Bros.,  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  and  has  an  up- 
to-date  store  with  a  first-class  trade.  Mr.  Fair  was  married,  in 
1897,  to  Lue  Wolfe,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rosanna  Wolfe,  of 
East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one  son, 
Clarence  S.,  born  Nov.  4,  1901.  Philip  Fair,  father  of  B.  O.  Fair, 
was  born  in  Armstrong  county  in  1832;  married,  in  tS6o,  to 
Nancy  J.  Gregg,  only  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Gregg,  and  to 
them  were  born  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living — Harvey, 
George,  Anna,  Samuel,  Charles,  Ross,  Barney,  Otto  and  Claude. 
Mr.  Fair  was  a  stone-cutter  by  trade,  was  a  man  of  good  character, 
and  was  prominent  officially,  having  held  most  of  the  offices  in  his 
own  township.  He  was  a  member  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  church 
of  Limestone,  and  was  connected  in  its  official  relations,  having 
been  a  deacon  for  many  years.      He  died  May  3,  1898.      His  wife, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  383 

Nancy  J.  Fair,  is  living  with  her  sou  in  Glenfield.  George  Gregg, 
her  father,  was  a  raftsman,  and  was  drowned  in  the  Allegheny 
river.  His  wife,  Mary  Gregg,  afterwards  married  Alexander 
Roofner,  and  to  them  were  born  ten  children.  She  died  in  1878. 
Philip  Fair  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Fair,  and  John  Fair  was 
the  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  Fair,  and  a  native  of  Armstrong 
county.  He  was  the  father  of  four  children:  William,  Philip, 
Susanna  and  Chambers.  William  died  at  the  homestead,  in  Arm- 
strong county,  and  Chambers  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and 
died  hi  the  hospital  at  Hagerstown,  Md.  Mary  Fair,  wife  of  John 
Fair,  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Christman.  Michael  Fair,  father 
of  John  Fair,  was  born  near  Philadelphia  in  1775,  and  died  in  i860. 
He  was  a  great  hunter,  and  lived  at  a  time  when  population  was 
sparse  and  wild  game  plenty.  He  crossed  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tains by  wagon  in  company  with  Jacob  Steelsmith,  they  being  the 
first  settlers  in  Armstrong  county.  Michael  Fair  married  Mary 
Steelsmith,  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Steelsmith.  Michael  Fair  was 
the  son  of  John  Fair,  of  Saxony,  Germany.  John  Fair  came  to 
America  in  1776  and  settled  near  Philadelphia,  arriving  Justin 
time  to  enlist  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

DR.    S.    CAMERON    BOWES,  whose 
^  residence   and  offices  are  located  at  No. 

815  Wylie  Ave.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  has  been 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  that  city  since  1893.  He  was 
born  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  April  18,  1864,  and 
is  the  son  of  Robert  U.  and  Elizabeth  B. 
(Robinson)  Bowes.  For  many  years  his 
father  was  the  general  agent  of  the  New 
York  life  insurance  company,  but  he  is 
now  retired  and  lives  in  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burg. His  mother  is  a  native  of  Blair 
county.  Pa.,  and  lived  there  until  her 
marriage.  Dr.  Bowes  was  graduated  from  the  Toledo  high  school, 
and  until  1887  was  employed  in  the  wholesale  drug  house  of 
Benton,  Myers  &  Co.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  1889  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  and,  as  a  preparatory  measure,  he  attended  the 
medical  department  of  Wooster  university,  Cleveland,  for  one 
year.  He  entered  the  Western  Pennsylvania  college,  Pittsburg, 
and  graduated  from  that  celebrated  school  in  1893.  The  same 
year   he   commenced    the   practice   of   his  profession,    locating   at 


384  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

No.  1222  Penn  Ave.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  removing  to 
his  present  location.  He  is  a  member  of  the  alumni  association  of 
the  Western  Pennsylvania  medical  college  and  the  Order  of 
Heptasophs,  being  the  medical  examiner  for  the  insurance  depart- 
ment of  that  order.  Dr.  Bowes  is  unmarried.  In  politics  he  is  a 
steadfast  republican  and  takes  an  acute  interest  in  public  affairs, 
but  never  to  the  disadvantage  of  his  patients,  whom  he  alwa5^s 
regards  as  being  entitled  to  his  first  consideration.  By  this  devo- 
tion to  his  duty  he  has  rendered  himself  deservedly  popular,  not 
only  with  his  patrons,  but  in  the  profession. 

MRS.  ROBERT  PHILLIPS,  of  Glen- 
field,  Pa.,  a  cultured  and  highly-esteemed 
woman,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
April  I,  1852,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  W.  Johnson,  her  father  having 
been  born  in  Pittsburg  in  1816,  and  her 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Caroline 
Stutton,  in  England  on  July  10,  1832. 
Her  parents  were  married  in  Pittsburg, 
in  1849,  and  had  two  children:  the  oldest, 
Margaret  E.,  who  married  Jerome  Frisby, 
on  Jan.  17,  1866,  and  is  now  a  widow, 
JOHN  PHILLIPS.  residing     in     Allegheny    city,    and     the 

mother  of  three  children:  Kate  Rolfe, 
wife  of  U.  S.  Jones,  of  Aliquippa  Park;  Roswell  Benton  and 
William  P.,  both  sons  being  successful  carpenters.  The  younger, 
Rachel  W.,  is  the  subject  of  this  resume.  Thomas  W.  Johnson, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Phillips,  was  a  successful  merchant  of  Pittsburg, 
and  for  many  years  was  associated  with  his  brother,  Samuel,  in  a 
business  venture  at  Smithfield  and  Liberty  streets,  where  they  did 
a  large  business  and  enjoyed  a  full  measure  of  prosperity.  Rachel 
W.  was  married,  on  April  4,  1878,  to  Robert  Phillips,  and  they 
have  had  ten  children  born  .  to  them,  viz. :  Lillie  and  Buela 
(deceased),  Charles  Clyde,  an  employe  of  the  Southern  Pacific  rail- 
road and  a  trustee  in  the  Glenfield  Presbyterian  church ;  Joseph 
Larmour,  with  the  United  States  steel  company;  Edgar  Laird,  an 
employe  of  the  Westinghouse  air  brake  company  and  a  member  of 
the  i8th  regiment  of  the  national  guard  of  Pennsylvania;  Victor 
Wilson,  also  with  the  United  States  steel  company;  Adala  Sher- 
wood, Dudley  Alexander,  Ralph  Eustace  and  Robert  Austin.  All 
of  her  sons  are  young  men  of  ability  and  industry,  and  are,  with- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  385 

out  exception,  fine  examples  of  morality  and  integrity.  Robert 
Phillips,  her  husband,  was  born  on  Nov.  28,  1848,  in  Stony  Ford, 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  son  of  John  and  Eliza  Belle  Phillips,  the 
former  a  son  of  Thomas  Phillips,  who  spent  his  entire  life  near 
Belfast,  Ireland.  John  Phillips  brought  his  family  to  America  in 
1852,  and  became  a  successful  farmer  on  Neville  island,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  March  6,  1896.  He  was  survived  by  his 
wife  for  several  years,  and  she  died  on  Nov.  i,  1901.  Robert 
Phillips  received  a  common-school  education,  then  became  a  car- 
penter and  contractor,  and  for  several  years  was  associated  with 
the  firm  of  T.  Phillips  &  Bros.,  of  Glenfield.  That  concern  did  an 
immense  business  until  the  death  of  T.  Phillips,  Jan.  26,  1899, 
when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and  since  that  time  Robert  Phillips 
has  devoted  his  attention  to  the  lumber  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Phillips  have  a  family  of  which  they  may  be  justly  proud,  and  Mrs. 
Phillips  is  a  woman  who  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire 
borough  in  which  she  resides. 

FRANK  BOST,  of  Homestead,  Pa.,  a 
^pi|^^  prosperous      blacksmith,     was    born     at 

^f^^^  McKeesport,   Pa.,  Feb.    25,    1861,   son   of 

mm    j^^  Henry     and      Catherine     (Renn)     Bost, 

'^  natives      of      Saarbriicken-on-the-Rhine, 

Germany,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1842,  and  settled  in  Allegheny  county, 
Pa.,  where  his  father  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  mining,  and  later  ran  a  hotel  at 
what  is  now  Duquesne.  The  elder  Bost 
was  also  on  the  county  detective  force 
for  four  years,  died  in  Mifflin  township, 
and  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: John  (deceased),  Jacob,  William,  Valentine,  Frank,  Henry 
and  Lewis.  Frank  Bost  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county,  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age  commenced  his 
apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmiths'  trade  and  served  four  years. 
Then  for  one  year  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  at  McKeesport,  and, 
in  1881,  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account  at  Homestead, 
where  he  has  since  continued  with  much  siiccess.  Mr.  Bost  is  the 
pioneer  blacksmith  of  that  borough,  and  has  long  been  known  for 
the  high  class  and  character  of  his  work,  as  well  as  for  his  splendid 
standing  as  a  man  and  as  a  citizen.  He  was  married,  on  Nov.  30, 
1883,  to   Lena,  daughter    of    Henry   and    Christiana   Wilhelmina 

1-25 


386  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

(Heisterberg)  Vondera,  of  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  county,  but 
formerly  of  Germany,  and  five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bost,  viz.:  Charles  H.,  Edna,  Alma,  Relda  and  Frank,  Jr. 
Mr.  Bost  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him; 
he  has  been  entrusted  with  a  number  of  public  offices  in  Mifflin 
township,  and  his  public  record,  like  his  private  one,  is  of  splendid 
character. 

GEORGE  H.  ZIMMERMAN,  of  Glen- 
field,  Pa.,  a  prominent  and  successful 
contractor,  was  born  on  July  24,  1868, 
and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Catharine 
Zimmerman.  His  father  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  about  1840  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  in  Pittsburg,  and  there 
worked  at  his  trade  of  tanning.  The 
elder  Zimmerman  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  enlisting  in  the  5th  West  Vir- 
ginia mounted  infantry,  and  served 
through  the  entire  war,  participating  in 
a  number  of  important  battles,  and  at 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  received  a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  leg 
which  confined  him  to  the  hospital  for  a  short  time.  On  his 
recovery,  he  rejoined  his  command  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  The  mother  of  the 
subject  was  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Pa.,  of  German  descent, 
having  been  born  in  1830,  and  died  on  March  17,  1900,  leaving  the 
following  children:  Louisa  and  Frank  (deceased),  George  H., 
Philip  E.,  Clara  M.  and  Emma  M.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  a  participant  in  the  wars  between  the  Catholics 
and  the  Huguenots  of  France,  and,  being  a  Protestant,  left  the 
land  of  his  birth  and  sought  an  asylum  in  the  country  that  assures 
liberty  in  thought  and  action,  settling  in  America,  and  there  passed 
the  remaining  years  of  his  life  in  peace  and  contentment.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Ohl,  and  was  a  daughter  of  parents  who  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Butler  county.  George  H.  Zimmerman  was 
educated  in  the  splendid  public  schools  of  Sewickley,  worked  as  a 
laborer  for  a  short  time,  and  then  began  his  present  business  as  a 
contractor  for  sinking  oil  wells,  in  which  occupation  he  has  met 
with  much  success  in  that  line.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
council  of  Glenfield,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees.    He  was  married,  on  Dec.  24,  1891,  to  Ida  M.  Luster,  and  to 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  387 

them  have  been  born  the  following  children:  Charles  S. ,  born  July 
20,  1893;  Woren  C,  born  July  30,  1895,  ^'^^  ^^^  May,  born  July 
15,  1899.  Mrs.  Zimmerman  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Marie 
Luster,  her  father  having  been  born  in  1830,  and  died  in  1895,  and 
her  mother  being  born  in  Allegheny  county,  April  6,  1826,  and 
now  resides  at  Glenfield.  INIrs.  Zimmerman's  father  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  and  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  in  Company  H, 
I  St  Pennsylvania  regiment  of  light  artillery,  until  wounded,  about 
a  year  after  his  enlistment,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  for 
physical  disability.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Charles  Brooks, 
was  of  English  descent  and  a  soldier  of  the  American  Revolution, 
having  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  under  General  Washington  in  Lou- 
doun county,  Va.  ;  participated  in  many  of  the  important  battles,  and 
served  throughout  the  entire  war.  On  one  occasion  his  leg  was 
slightly  grazed  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  though  not  dangerously  hurt, 
this  wotmd  never  healed,  but  continued  to  be  a  source  of  much 
annoyance  until  his  death.  Charles  Brooks  was  married  three 
times,  was  the  father  of  eighteen  children,  and  lived  to  the  ripe  old 
age  of  ninety-five  years. 

^  FREDERICK  HERING,  a  prominent 

contractor  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and 
member  of  the  common  council  from  the 
twelfth  ward,  was  born  in  the  third  ward 
of  that  city  on  March  7,  1866.  His  par- 
ents are  Michael  and  Christine  Hering. 
Until   he  was   about  twenty-six  years  of 

#age,  he  continued  to  reside  in  the  ward 
where  he  was  born,  attending  school  up 
to  his  fourteenth  year.  He  then  became 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  house- 
moving  and  raising  business,  continuing 
in  that  occupation  until  1886,  when  he 
was  taken  into  full  partnership.  At  present  the  business  is  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  A.  Hering  &  Bro.,  with  offices  at 
No.  loio  Middle  St.,  Allegheny  city,  and  is  well  known  throughout 
the  county.  Mr.  Hering  is  a  stanch  republican,  and,  in  February, 
1901,  was  elected  to  represent  his  ward  in  the  common  council. 
His  services  were  so  entirely  satisfactory  to  his  constituents  that 
two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  and  is  now  in  his  second  term. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  committees  on  surveys,  public  works  and 
water,  and  is  chairman  of  the  sub-committee  of  surveys.      In  1891 


388  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

he  was  married  to  Miss  Wilhelmiua  Bapst,  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
they  have  three  children,  viz.  :  Lillian,  Elma  and  Frederick.  Mr. 
Hering  is  an  influential  member  of  the  National  Union  and  of  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor. 

ROBERT  B.  PAGAN,  of  Haysville, 
Pa  ,  prominently  identified  with  the  oil 
industry  of  that  part  of  the  county,  was 
born  on  Sept.  12,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of 
Robert  Pagan,  a  native  of  Dumfries, 
Scotland,  who  came  to  America  in  the 
spring  of  1836,  at  the  age  of  twenty- one 
years,  and  here  followed  his  trade  of 
stone-cutting  for  a  number  of  years, 
assisting  in  the  stone  work  on  the  old 
Williamsport  bridge,  and  also  doing  that 
kind  of  work  for  a  railroad  company. 
The  dust  from  the  stone  later  began  to 
affect  his  lungs,  and  consequently  he  gave  up  that  trade  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio  township,  where  he  died  on  March  27, 
1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Robert  B.  Pagan  was  edu- 
cated in  the  splendid  schools  of  Ohio  township,  and  when  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  flour-miller,  and  after 
accomplishing  that  object,  was  in  charge  of  a  mill  for  eleven  years. 
He  was  compelled  to  seek  another  occupation  on  account  of 
impaired  health,  and  for  three  years  conducted  a  blacksmith  and 
repair  shop  at  the  old  N.  W.  Mitchell  mill,  on  the  Little  Sewickley 
creek.  Subsequently  he  began  drilling  artesian  wells,  and  later 
oil  and  gas  wells  for  C.  J.  Hammel;  then  for  one  year  was  a  con- 
tractor on  his  own  account,  but  was  compelled  to  quit  that  busi- 
ness on  account  of  losing  his  tools  while  engaged  in  sinking  a  well. 
He  then  became  field  foreman  for  the  Fisher  oil  company  for 
thirteen  years,  and  since  that  time  has  been  in  charge  of  an  oil 
lease  for  the  Haysville  company.  He  was  married,  on  Dec.  30, 
1886,  to  Sarah  E.  Merriman,  and  they  have  three  children,  viz.  : 
Bessie  Annie,  born  Aug.  4,  1888;  Sarah  Ellen,  born  March  i,  1890, 
and  Elmer  Robert,  born  July  27,  1897.  Mrs.  Pagan  was  born 
on  Nov.  27,  1870,  and  is  the  granddaughter  of  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Allegheny  county,  who  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Aleppo  township  and  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  his  day.  Mr. 
Pagan's  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Brant,  was  born  in 
Berlin,  Germany,  Jan.  29,  1828,  and  settled  in  Pittsburg  at  the  age 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  389 

of  eighteen  years.  She  was  married  when  twenty,  is  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  and  is  now  seventy-six  years  of  age,  and  a  hale 
and  hearty  old  lady. 

HENRY  B.  LATSHAW,  of  Glenfield, 
Pa.,  an  important  figure  in  the  oil  indus- 
try of  that  section,  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Pa.,  Jan.  24,  1848,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Fannie  Latshaw.  The 
father  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
May  25,  1819 ;  died  at  his  home  in  Barkey- 
ville,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  April  29,  1901, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Barkeyville  ceme- 
tery. He  was  a  thrifty  and  successful 
farmer,  and  one  of  the  prosperous  busi- 
ness men  of  that  part  of  the  county. 
Henry  B.  Latshaw  spent  his  early  life 
on  the  farm,  and  when  he  attained  his  majority,  began  as  a  laborer 
in  the  lumber  industry,  which  he  followed  for  four  years.  Then 
he  became  connected  with  the  oil  business,  working  for  the  Brad- 
foot  oil  company,  the  Union  oil  company,  and  for  more  than  ten 
years  has  been  foreman  of  the  Midland  division  of  the  Forest  oil 
company,  which  was  formerly  known  as  the  South  Pennsylvania 
company,  of  Oil  City,  Pa.  John  Latshaw,  his  father,  married 
Fannie,  daughter  of  Adam  Tinsman,  she  having  been  born  in  But- 
ler county.  Pa.,  and  died  on  May  19,  1875,  and  is  buried  by  the  side 
of  her  husband  in  the  Barkeyville  cemetery.  The  Latshaws  are  of 
German  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  John  Latshaw,  having  come  to 
America  with  his  four  brothers  and  settled  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  they  became  a  numerous  and  prominent  family.  John 
Latshaw,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.  :  Jacob  L,  Henry  B. ,  Nancy  J., 
Mary  Anne,  Manuel  L.,  Josiah  H.,  Bertha  and  Rosa;  the  deceased 
ones  being  David,  Levi,  Aaron,  Sadie  and  William  J.  David  and 
Levi  Latshaw  were  both  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  the  former 
enlisting  as  a  volunteer  in  Company  K,  4th  Pennsylvania  cavalry, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  was  in  the  following  important 
engagements:  Antietam,  Blue  Ridge,  Fredericksburg,  Bull  Run, 
Petersburg  and  a  number  of  others.  He  saw  distinguished  serv- 
ice, and  after  three  years'  arduous  campaigning,  re-enlisted  for 
the  rest  of  the  war.  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  captured,  confined 
for  three  months  in  Libby  prison,  and  then  transferred  to  Ander- 


390  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

sonville,  where  he  died  after  a  ten-month  imprisonment,  and  was 
buried  in  the  soldiers'  cemetery  of  that  place.  Levi  Latshaw 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  6th  Pennsylvania  heavy  artillery,  and  dur- 
ing the  war  was  on  picket  duty  until  honorably  discharged,  return- 
ing then  to  his  home  in  the  Keystone  State.  Henry  B.  Latshaw 
was  married,  on  Feb.  i,  1877,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  Young,  of  Irwin  township,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  the  former  a 
prosperous  farmer,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  Sept.  i,  1826,  and 
died  on  June  6,  1886,  and  her  mother  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
April  4,  1834,  and  now  resides  in  North  Liberty,  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Young  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  and 
are  among  the  prominent  people  of  the  various  communities  in 
which  they  reside.  Henry  B.  Latshaw  has  been  quite  successful 
in  business  affairs,  and  now  owns  two  fine  farms — one  of  eighty 
acres  in  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  and  another  of  164  acres  in  Venango 
county — both  of  which  are  fine  pieces  of  property  and  fully  adapted 
for  the  best  agricultural  results.  Mr.  Latshaw  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  his  political  affiliations  are 
with  the  republican  party.  Miss  Sadie  Young,  a  niece  of  Mrs. 
Latshaw,  has  been  a  member  of  their  household  for  more  than 
fourteen  years,  and  is  a  bright  and  accomplished  young  woman. 

EDWARD  J.  WILLIAMS,  of  Whit- 
aker.  Pa.,  a  prominent  citizen  and  a 
skilled  employe  of  the  Homestead  steel 
works,  was  born  at  Irwin,  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  i,  1872,  son  of  William  and 
Jane  (Evans)  Williams,  natives  of  Wales. 
His  father  came  to  the  United  States 
about  1867,  located  in  Westmoreland 
county,  and  there  engaged  in  coal-mining 
until  1885,  when  he  removed  to  Home- 
stead, where  he  has  since  been  employed 
in  the  steel  works.  The  elder  Williams 
is  the  father  of  five  children,  viz.  :  Edward 
J.,  Thomas,  John,  Albert  and  Hannah.  Edward  J.  Williams  was 
reared  in  Westmoreland  and  Allegheny  counties,  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  1892-93, 
when  he  was  with  the  Illinois  steel  company,  has  been  an  employe 
of  the  Homestead  steel  works  since  1885.  He  was  married,  on 
June  19,  1898,  to  Maggie,  daughter  of  James  and  Ellen  (Calnan) 
Barrett,  residents  of  Homestead,  and  to  jSIr.  WiHiams  and  his  wife 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  391 

have  been  born  two  children,  viz. :  William  and  Mildred  May.  Mr. 
Williams  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees  and  of  the  republican  party.  He  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  affairs  of  the  township,  and,  in  1903,  was  elected  one 
of  its  auditors,  evidence  of  the  esteem  and  respect  with  which  he 
is  regarded  by  those  who  know  him  best — his  neighbors  and 
associates. 

JOHN  W.  MOORE,  of  Glenfield,  Pa., 
a  highly-respected  citizen  and  a  prosper- 
ous farmer,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.,  Feb.  3,  1836,  son  of  James 
and  Letitia  Moore.     The  father  was  born 

#in  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  Feb.  3, 
1 791 ;  married  Letitia  Young,  in  1818,  and 
had  fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  viz.  :  Harvey,  a  promi- 
nent United  Brethren  minister,  who  for 
twenty  years  was  in  charge  of  a  church 
of  that  denomination  at  Clearfield,  Pa.  ; 
Sarah,  Elisha,  Thomas  M.,  Eliza  A., 
Margaret,  Martha,  Emily,  John  W.,  Amanda  R.  and  Henry  W.,  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  war.  Two  of  this  large  family  still  survive, 
namely,  John  W.  and  Henr3^  Their  father  died  on  Dec.  2,  1858, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Blackburn  cemetery,  of  Ohio  township,  and 
their  mother,  who  was  born  in  1797,  died  on  April  7,  1870.  The 
grandfather  of  John  W.  Moore  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Allegheny  county,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  which  was 
granted  him  by  the  government  for  his  services  as  a  member  of  the 
continental  army  during  the  American  Revolution.  John  W. 
Moore  was  married  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Julia 
(Kittinger)  Parsons,  on  Dec.  6,  1856,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
twelve  children,  viz.  :  two  pairs  of  twins  that  died  shortly  after 
birth;  James  Milton,  born  Aug.  8,  1857;  Emma  Elizabeth,  born 
Aug.  25,  1859;  Ida  Ella,  born  Jan.  2,  1862;  George  Washington, 
born  April  17,  1864;  Cora  Dell,  born  Nov.  19,  1866;  Mary  Frances, 
born  March  21,  1869;  John  Wesley,  born  July  8,  1874,  and  Robert 
Parsons,  born  March  29,  1877.  James  H.  Parsons,  who  was  born 
in  Mifflin  county.  Pa.,  May  16,  1809,  and  died  on  Feb.  17,  1885,  and 
his  wife,  who  was  born  in  Bellefonte,  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  May  26, 
181 1,  and  died  in  1896,  were  the  parents  of  the  following  twelve 
children:    John,    Theodore,    William,    James    F.,    Mary   Amanda, 


392  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Lucinda  Elizabeth,  Catharine  Nancy,  Edward,  Jacob,  George  W., 
Samuel  Erastus  and  Allen  Cross.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have 
twenty-three  grandchildren,  and  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  with  which  Mr.  Moore  has  been  connected  in 
official  capacities  for  nearly  fifty  years. 

PHILIP  C.  BURKERT,  of  Glenfield, 
Pa.,  a  valued  employe  of  the  Pittsburg 
forge  and  iron  company,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  May  3,  1862,  son  of  Christ  and 
Christina  Burkert.  Mr.  Burkert  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Glen- 
field, spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm 
near  there,  and,  in  1884,  became  an 
employe  of  the  Pittsburg  forge  and  iron 
company,  with  which  concern  he  has 
since  continued,  and  now  occupies  the 
responsible  position  of  bolt-maker.  He 
was  married,  in  1883,  to  Cathorina, 
daughter  of  John  and  Lottie  Luntz,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
five  children,  viz. :  Lottie  and  Christina,  twins  (deceased) ;  Fred  W., 
Cathorina  M.  and  Anna  Gertrude  C.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Burkert, 
John  Luntz,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Oct.  23,  1827;  came  to 
America  in  1853,  and  settled  in  Allegheny  county,  where  he  suc- 
cessfully followed  agricultural  pursuits.  John  Luntz  was  married 
to  Charlotte  Rothhaar,  and  to  them  were  born  six  children,  viz. : 
Magdalena  (deceased),  Caroline,  Margaret,  Cathorina,  John  S.  and 
Adam  H.  Mrs.  Luntz  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  April  20, 
1S37;  came  to  America  when  quite  young,  and  died  at  Glenfield, 
Pa.,  Jan.  30,  1896.  John  A.  Luntz,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Burkert, 
was  born  at  Neustadt,  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1780,  died  in  1835, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Schornweisach  cemetery.  John  Rothhaar,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Burkert,  was  also  born  in  Bavaria, 
Aug.  30,  1802,  where  he  married  Katherine  Miller,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  family,  settling  in  Mifflin  township.  To  them 
were  born  the  following  nine  children:  Christ,  John,  Catharine, 
Adam,  Charlotte,  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Carolina  and  Jacob.  Mr. 
Rothhaar  died  in  Jefferson  township,  Aug.  10,  1868,  and  his  wife, 
born  May  19,  1805,  died  on  the  home  farm  on  Feb.  22,  1866. 
Christ  Burkert,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Wiirtemburg, 
Germany,  in  1833 ;  came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  settled 
in  Allegheny  county,  where  he  pursued  his  trade  of  iron-working. 


='3^ 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  393 

In  187 1  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Aleppo  township,  and  died  in  Glen- 
field,  Jan.  I,  1903.  Christ  Burkert  married  Christina,  daughter  of 
Josa  and  Christina  Sinzinger,  of  Wiirtemburg,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  nine  children,  all  but  Philip  C,  Edward  G.  and 
William  G.  being  deceased.  Mrs.  Christina  Burkert  died  on 
July  19,  1894,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  her  life.  His  grandfather 
Burkert  was  killed  while  plying  his  vocation  of  a  teamster  by  being 
accidentally  thrown  from  his  wagon,  and  his  wife  died  at  Teraper- 
anceville.  Pa.,  in  her  eighty-fourth  year. 

MRS.  AMELIA  HAMILTON,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Catharine   Scott,   was 
born  on   Neville   island,    Dec.    13,    181 8. 
Her  father,  James  Scott,  of  Scotch  line- 
•^  •  age,  was  born  in   Brownsville,    Pa.,  and 

'•^     |d*s%    •  died   in    Marietta,    Ohio,    in   his   eighty- 

seventh    year.       He   was    the    father   of 
eighteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  lived 
^#      ^  V  ■     ^P"       to    rear    families    of    their    own.       The 

^Hl       •"''^      mf.-        twelve  were:  Sarah,  Nancy,    Alexander, 
^^P"  ^.^P  James,     Mary,      Adam      and      Maxwell 

1^^  (twins),  Amelia,   Elsie,   Ellen,   Catharine 

and  Margaret,  all  living  to  be  more  than 
fifty  years  old.  James  and  Catharine  Scott  had  over  100  grand- 
children. Mrs.  Catharine  Scott  was  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Hughey,  of  Irish  descent.  They  came  from  Ireland  in  the 
early  history  of  the  United  States,  and  settled  first  in  New  Jersey, 
removing  later  to  Robinson  township,  Allegheny  county,  where  he 
purchased  a  large  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughey  were  among  the 
thrifty  and  energetic  people  of  their  time,  and  both  lived  to  see 
more  than  three-score  years.  In  religious  belief  they  were  Pres- 
byterians. Mrs.  Amelia  Hamilton  was  married,  Sept.  6,  1843,  to 
James  H.  Hamilton,  of  Neville  township,  and  to  them  were  born 
six  children,  James  A.,  David  D.,  Mary  C.  and  Hutchinson  (all  now 
deceased),  Mrs.  Nancy  A.  Kirk,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  Miss 
Lydia  J.  Hamilton,  of  Neville  island.  James  H.  Hamilton,  son  of 
David  and  Mary  Hamilton,  was  born  Dec.  20,  1813,  and  died 
Dec.  13,  1869,  and  was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Neville  island.  He 
was  a  Presbyterian  and  very  active  in  church  work,  having  held 
the  ofiice  of  elder  for  many  years.  Nancy  A.,  daughter  of  Amelia 
and  James  H.  Hamilton,  was  married,  on  Sept.  14,  1865,  to  John  M. 
Kirk,  of  Allegheny  city,  a  widely-known  carriage  manufacturer,  on 


394  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Arch  street.  He  died  Jan.  2,  1899  Mrs.  Amelia  Hamilton  has 
six  grandchildren  and  ten  great-grandchildren,  of  whom  the 
former  are:  Mrs.  Amelia  Erwin,  of  Baden,  Pa.  ;  James  R.  Kirk,  of 
Neville  island;  Mrs.  Geitz,  of  Allegheny  city;  Miss  Bessie  Kirk, 
Richard  D.  and  W.  H.  Kirk,  all  of  Allegheny  city.  The  great- 
grandchildren are:  Amelia  Hamilton  Erwin  and  James  Andrew 
Erwin,  of  Baden;  Hazel  Amelia,  Anna,  Elizabeth  and  Thomas  S. 
Kirk,  of  Neville  island;  Charles  M.,  George  R.,  Frederick  and 
Richard  A.  Geitz,  all  of  Allegheny. 

JOHN  E.  SCHELL,  of  Coraopolis, 
Pa.,  a  prosperous  oil  producer,  was  born 
in  Perry  township,  Clarion  Co.,  Pa., 
vSept.  6,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  James  A. 
and  Rachel  E.  (Bell)  Schell.  He  is  the 
I;,  ^^  ^^HH|     second  in  order  of  birth  often  children, 

*  ^HH      eight  of  whom  are  living,    and,    besides 

himself,  are:  Lloyd  M.,  William  A., 
James  N.,  Penola  M.,  Florence  and  Alice 
(who  are  twins),  and  Ida  E.  Both  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
were  his  ancestors  for  many  years.  His 
father  was  a  pioneer  in  the  oil  business, 
living  until  April  20,  1902,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years.  He  was  a  republican  and  a  Presbyterian,  and  is  survived 
by  his  widow,  who  is  now  in  her  seventy-third  year.  John  E. 
Schell  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  township  until  his 
eighteenth  year,  when  he  went  to  work  in  the  oil  fields  of  Clarion 
county,  and  there  remained  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
Then  he  went  to  McKean  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
same  occupation  for  nine  years;  later  spent  a  year  in  the  oil  fields  of 
Washington  county;  then  came  to  Coraopolis,  where  he  was  a  part- 
ner of  E.  A.  Culbertson  until  1898.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he 
organized  the  Schell  oil  and  gas  company,  and  since  has  managed 
its  affairs  with  skill  and  ability.  This  company  owns,  among  its 
holdings,  leases  on  several  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Monroe  county, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Schell  was  married,  in  1886,  to  Ella  F.  Culbertson,  of 
Rimersburg,  Pa.,  and  their  wedded  life  has  been  an  unusually 
happy  one.  Mr.  Schell  is  a  member  of  the  democratic  party,  and 
is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Ohio  Valley  trust  company,  a  director  in  the 
Coraopolis  savings  and  trust  company,  president  of  the  Coraopolis 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  395 

industrial  company,  and  is  prominent  in  financial  circles.  Mr. 
Schell  has  passed  through  many  trying  ordeals  in  a  business  way, 
coming  to  Coraopolis  with  a  comparatively  small  sum  of  money  and 
losing  his  home  by  fire  shortly  afterwards.  Nothing  daunted  by 
these  disasters,  he  set  to  work  to  restore  his  broken  fortunes,  and 
succeeded  so  admirably  that  to-day  he  is  reckoned  as  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  the  borough. 

JAMES  H.  GREEN,  a  prominent 
photographer  and  dealer  in  photograph 
supplies,  of  Braddock,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
,_,^^^^___^  ^^__  Staffordshire,  England,  on  Feb.  14,  1S54. 
/  ]^^^^HHH|U^^B  -^^  ^^  ^  ^^^  ^^  John  and  Louisa  (Howells) 
^^^Ij^^^^K^^^^B  Green,  both  natives  of  Staffordshire. 
|v'''^V^H|H^^^H  The  father  was  born  in  1821,  and  was  a 
r*  Jl^^^HJI^^^V  roller  by  trade,  being  the  manager  of  a 
mill  there.  He  came  to  America  in  1879, 
the  family  soon  following,  and  settled  in 
Scottdale,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  same  business.  The 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Elisha  Howells, 
born  in  1824,  and  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living.  Mr.  Green  was  a  man  beloved  by  every  one 
in  his  neighborhood,  and  was  familiarly  called  "Father  Green,"  on 
account  of  his  genial  disposition.  James  H.  Green  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
and  was  then  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to  John  W.  Bates,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  working  at  the  photograph  business.  He 
then  went  into  the  iron  mills  with  his  father,  and  in  the  five  years 
that  he  was  there,  learned  the  trade  of  his  father,  that  of  a  roller. 
Mr.  Green  returned  to  his  former  occupation,  and  finished  learn- 
ing the  trade,  and,  in  1886,  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Johnson,  under  the  firm  name  of  Green  &  Johnson,  conduct- 
ing a  flourishing  business  in  Scottdale  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1 891  Mr.  Green  opened  a  fine  studio  in  Pittsburg,  but  lost  every- 
thing by  fire  in  less  than  a  year.  This  was  most  discouraging  and 
sufficient  cause  to  make  many  men  give  up  entirely,  but  having  the 
true  English  grit  in  his  make-up,  he  started  anew,  opening  a  gal- 
lery in  Wilkinsburg,  one  in  Braddock,  and  later  one  in  Homestead, 
all  three  thriving  from  the  first.  Mr.  Green  now  operates  the 
galleries  at  Braddock  and  Homestead,  with  a  fine  patronage,  hav- 
ing   sold     the    Wilkinsburg     gallery    to    his    son-in-law,     F.     E. 


396  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Bingaman.  Mr.  Green  was  married,  in  1873,  to  Sophia  Parfitt,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  Parfitt,  of  Pensnett,  England,  and 
twelve  children  came  to  bless  their  union,  only  three  of  whom  are 
living:  Mary,  wife  of  F.  E.  Bingaman;  John  W. ,  of  Edgewood, 
and  Miss  Violet.  Mr.  Green  is  a  member  of  Marion  lodge, 
No.  526,  F.  and  A.  M.  ;  the  Tribe  of  Ben-Hur,  and  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  and  family  belong  to  the 
Baptist  church  at  Wilkinsburg.  He  has  a  fine  residence  in  Edge- 
wood,  where  he  and  his  family  enjoy  home  comforts. 

JOHN  WACHTER,  of  Glenfield,  Pa., 
a  prominent  citizen  and  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Ohio  township,  was  born  in 
that  township,  Aug.  8,  185 1,  son  of  John 
P.  and  Frances  Wachter.  Mr.  Wachter 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Allegheny  county,  and  has  devoted  his 
entire  attention  to  farming,  of  which 
occupation  he  has  made  a  complete  suc- 
cess, and  is  one  of  the  leading  and  best- 
informed  farmers  of  that  section  of  the 
county.  John  P.  Wachter,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  in  1801,  and  came  to  America  in  1847,  settling  on  the 
place  where  his  son  now  resides.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade,  but 
after  coming  to  America,  followed  farming  until  his  death,  in  1873, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  remains  are  buried  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  at  Glenfield.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Hotit,  and  she  was  born  on  Feb.  14,  1807,  and  died  in  1883.  The 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  was  a  noted  soldier,  and 
served  under  the  great  Napoleon  on  his  invasion  of  Russia,  when  the 
flower  of  the  chivalry  of  "La  Belle  France,"  which  had  conquered 
most  of  the  armies  of  the  civilized  world,  was  withered  by  the 
rigors  of  the  northern  climate.  John  Wachter  was  married, 
Jan.  9,  1877,  to  Minnie,  daughter  of  Amon  Lutz,  and  they  have 
had  four  children  born  to  them,  viz.  :  George,  born  April  5,  1878; 
Charlie,  born  April  3,  1879;  Joseph,  born  April  17,  1881,  and  Rosa, 
born  Sept.  6,  1884.  Mr.  Wachter  is  widely  known  in  Ohio  town- 
ship, and  is  very  popular  with  all  classes,  having  been  honored 
with  election  to  all  the  important  positions  within  the  gift  of  the 
township,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  treasurer  of  the  board  of 
education  and  tax  collector  of  Ohio  township.      He  is  a  member  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  397 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  which  he  has  served  in  official  capaci- 
ties, and  is  highly  regarded  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  as  a  man 
of  fine  judgment  and  undoubted  business  ability. 

GEORGE  H.  HARVEY,  resident  of 
Glenfield,  son  of  William  M,  and  Char- 
lotte V.  Harvey,  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Nov.  15,  1863,  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Washington  and 
of  New  York  city.  His  vocation  is  that 
of  patent  attorney  and  draftsman.  He 
was  married  to  Anna  P.  Schulte,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  children,  Aurela  C. 
and  James  M.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a  resident 
of  the  borough  of  Glenfield,  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  in  its  official  rela- 
tions, having  been  a  member  of  the 
council,  board  of  education,  and  burgess.  Perhaps  Mr.  Harvey 
is  best  known  as  a  genius,  having  come  before  the  public  as  the 
inventor  of  four  patents — the  first,  a  thread  protector,  used  exclus- 
ively by  the  United  States  steel  company,  of  New  York ;  second, 
the  Harvey  system  of  burning  oil,  used  principally  by  manu- 
facturers; third,  the  process  of  manufacturing  gas,  and  fourth,  the 
Harvey  system  of  making  window  glass.  William  M.  Harvey, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  son  of  George  Harvey,  was 
born  in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  a  contractor  by  occupation, 
leaving  it  long  enough  to  render  his  country  signal  service  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  married  to  Charlotte  May,  eleven  children 
being  born  to  this  union.  Charlotte  (May)  Harvey,  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  was  the  daughter  of  Francis  Russell  May,  a  descendant  of 
Lord  Russell,  and  a  veteran  in  the  War  of  181 2.  Mr.  May  was  con- 
nected for  fifty  years  with  the  sergeant-general's  department  of  the 
United  States  army.  He  died  in  1881  in  his  eighty-seventh  year. 
The  Harveys  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Maryland,  being  in 
Lord  Baltimore's  fleet,  which  landed  first  in  Virginia  in  1632. 
The  Mays,  the  ancestry  on  the  mother's  side,  were  also  early 
pioneers  of  the  United  States.  Their  first  appearance  was  as 
traders,  about  the  year  1607. 


te 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

DAVIDSON  DUFF  (deceased),  son  of 
William     and     Margaret     (Boggs)    Duff, 
was  born  Sept.    14,    1814,  in  Ohio  town- 
.^1^  ship,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Duff  farm, 

r'  or  "Deer    Park."     He  was   educated   in 

the  schools  of  his  own  township  and  in 
the  city  of  Pittsburg,  but  spent  his  entire 
I  -ji^  life   on   the    farm,    his   attention    being 

',  .  WK       exclusively    given    to     that    occupation. 

yj^imm^^^^^B/m         He  was  married  to  Mary  Mitchell,  July 
^^^B^Hj^^^^  18,  1837,  and   to   them  were    born  eight 

^^H^H^^  children:  James  H.,  Margaret  A.,  Sarah, 

William,  Caroline,  Isabella  B.,  David  and 
Wilton  R.  Mr.  Duff  was  for  thirty  years  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Ohio  township.  He  was  one  of  its  most  popular  and  esteemed 
residents,  being  never  defeated  for  ofBce,  and  elected  to  all  the 
important  ones  in  his  township.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education.  He  and  his  wife  were  charter  members 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Mt.  Nebo,  of  which  he  was 
also  a  trustee.  He  died  Feb.  29,  1896.  His  wife,  Mary  (Mitchell) 
Duff,  was  the  daughter  of  Harry  and  Margaret  Mitchell,  and  was 
born  in  Ireland,  May  8,  1814.  She  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  in  1835;  she  was  also  a  very  enthusiastic  church  worker 
and  the  embodiment  of  a  noble  Christian  character.  She  died 
May  2,  1902,  in  her  eighty-ninth  year.  William  Duff,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  6,  1783,  coming  to 
this  country  at  three  years  of  age.  His  father,  James  Duff,  settled 
first  in  Westmoreland  county,  removed  to  Allegheny  county  about 
the  year  1800,  and  bought  a  farm  of  150  acres,  joining  Dixmont, 
He  died  in  1863  on  the  Duff  farm.  He  came  to  America  in  1786, 
and  from  that  date  the  history  of  this  family  begins  in  America. 
William  Duff  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Allegheny  county.  On 
a  journey  on  foot  to  Ohio  in  search  of  a  farm,  he  spent  the  night 
at  an  Indian  camp,  where  he  met  with  many  thrilling  experiences 
which  the  family  has  often  heard  him  relate.  For  a  long  time  he 
lived  on  the  Duff  farm  in  a  log  cabin,  a  structure  considered  in 
pioneer  days  a  great  luxury.  He  was  a  very  generous-hearted 
man,  and  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  views,  attending  church 
at  Robinson's  Run.  At  the  time  the  church  at  Mt.  Nebo  was. 
built,  he  became  a  member  there,  and  remained  so  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  18,  1863.  He  was  the  father  of  three  chil- 
dren, James,  Jane  and  Davidson.     James  Duff  was  a  soldier  in  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  399 

Civil  war,  enlisting  Aug.  31,  186 1,  in  Company  B,  4th  Pennsyl- 
vania cavalry.  He  was  engaged  in  a  number  of  important  battles, 
as  the  Seven  Days'  battle  and  Antietam,  was  taken  prisoner  at  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  Oct.  12,  1863,  and  died  in  Andersonville  prison 
Sept.  12,  1864.  Mrs.  Margaret  (Duff)  Graff,  the  only  surviving 
member  of  the  Duff  family,  was  born  Jan.  21,  1842,  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead.  She  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  her  own 
township,  and  was  married,  June  15,  1882,  to  David  Graff,  of 
Tarentum.  He  was  a  farmer  in  his  early  manhood,  but  later 
became  engaged  in  the  oil  business  as  driller.  He  was  of  German- 
Irish  extraction,  and  died  March  19,  1892.  Mrs.  Graff  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  Mt.  Nebo,  and  is  one  of  its 
faithful  and  earnest  workers.  The  Duff  family  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  trusty  families,  being  known  for  their  honesty  and  fair 
dealings  in  business,  and  their  unquestionable  character.  Sarah  ' 
Duff  was  married,  May  30,  1867,  to  George  W.  Crawford,  and  to 
them  was  born  one  child,  Harry  D.  Mrs.  Crawford  was  also  a 
Presbyterian,  and  died  Nov.  12,  1872.  David  Duff  was  married  to 
Mary  Hamilton,  Jan.  13,  1873,  and  to  them  were  born  six  children, 
James  S.,  Olive  B.,  Harry  L.,  Pearl  A.,  Margaret  E.  and  Elmer  I. 
David  Duff  succeeded  his  father  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Ohio 
township,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
Aug.  14,  1897. 

FREDERICK  TSCHUME,  a  promi- 
nent wholesale  liquor  merchant  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  Pa.,  and  member  of  the  select 
council  from  the  fourteenth  ward,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  in  1854. 
When  he  was  about  six  years  of  age  his 
parents,  the  late  Samuel  and  Mary 
Tschume,  removed  to  Allegheny  city, 
where  Frederick  acquired  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  a  private  Ger- 
man school.  After  leaving  school,  he 
learned  the  drug  business,  in  which  he 
continued  for  six  years,  when  he  became 
associated  with  J.  J.  Stand  as  a  salesman.  He  followed  this  busi- 
ness for  about  ten  years,  when  he  withdrew  and  started  a  grocery 
on  East  street.  In  September,  1902,  he  retired  from  the  grocery, 
but  continued  the  wholesale  liquor  business,  in  which  he  had  pre- 
viously become  interested.     His  place  of  business  is  at  No.  2316 


400  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

East  St.  Politically,  Mr.  Tschume  is  a  republican.  He  served  for 
three  terms  as  school  director,  and,  in  1897,  he  was  elected  to  the 
select  council.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  was  re-elected, 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  term.  In  the  council  he  is  a  member 
of  the  committees  on  public  works,  public  safety  and  grade  cross- 
ings. He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kanz,  of  Allegheny  city, 
and  to  this  marriage  four  children  have  been  born,  viz.  :  Flora, 
Elizabeth,  Stella  and  Fred,  Jr.  Mr.  Tschume  is  a  member  of  the 
Pittsburg  court,  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  and  of  St.  Peter's 
Lutheran  church.  His  record  as  a  councilman  has  been  indorsed 
by  the  people,  as  can  be  seen  by  his  re-election,  and  in  his  private 
business  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  city. 

GEORGE  THEIN,  of  Glenfield,  Pa., 
a  prosperous  and  successful  farmer  of 
Aleppo  township,  was  born  there,  Nov. 
16,  1848,  son  of  George  and  Margaret 
Thein,  both  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  in  1847,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  their  son  now 
resides.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
a  farmer  of  Germany,  who  accompanied 
his  son  to  the  United  States,  and  died  in 
Allegheny  county  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  George  Thein,  the 
elder,  was  the  father  of  four  children, 
viz. :  George,  Charlie,  Anton  and  Maggie.  He  died  on  Nov.  2, 
1887,  his  wife  having  previously  died,  the  date  of  her  death  being 
May  16,  1882.  George  Thein,  the  son,  has  devoted  his  entire  busi- 
ness career  to  farming,  and  has  made  a  great  success  of  his  voca- 
tion, now  owning  a  splendid  farm,  equipped  with  all  modern 
appliances  and  in  every  way  thoroughly  high-class.  He  was  mar- 
ried, on  June  5,  1873,  to  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  Armond  Lutz,  her 
father  having  died  on  May  16,  1897,  and  her  mother  in  1892.  To 
them  have  been  born  seven  children,  viz. :  Margaret,  born  March  4, 
1874;  Mary  A.,  born  Nov.  20,  1876;  John  H,  and  Rosa,  twins,  born 
Feb.  12,  1880;  Anna  L.,  born  Dec.  14,  1881;  Elizabeth  R.,  born 
Feb.  14,  1887,  and  Frank  J.,  born  Oct.  27,  1888.  Mrs.  Thein  is  one 
of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  she  having  had  seven  sisters  and 
three  brothers,  and  is  in  every  way  a  most  estimable  woman.  Mr. 
Thein  served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Aleppo  township,  and  also  held  the  position  of  trustee  in  St. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


401 


Mary's  church,  of  Glenfield.  He  is  a  successful  business  man,  a 
courteous  g-entleman,  and  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  and 
in  many  ways  has  contributed  to  the  advancement  and  prosperity 
of  that  section  of  Allegheny  county. 


DR.  JAMES  E.  MORROW,  principal 
of  the  Allegheny  high  school,  was  born 
in  Brooke  county,  Va.  (now  Hancock 
county,  W.  Va.),  March  28,  1837,  and  is 
the  son  of  Alexander  Morrow.  He  was 
graduated  from  Jefferson  college  in  1856, 
A.  B.,  with  an  A.  M.  in  1875,  and  a  Ph. 
D.  in  1889.  He  began  teaching  in  1856, 
studied  law  and  was  licensed  in  Decem- 
ber, 1859,  and  practiced  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted 
as  private,  servmg  as  such  and  as  a  ser- 
geant until  Feb.  20,  1862,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  a  little  later  first  lieutenant,  and  in 
1863  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  of  Company  F,  ist  Vir- 
ginia volunteer  infantry,  and  was  on  staff  duty  until  his  discharge, 
Dec.  10,  1864.  After  the  war,  he  resumed  his  teaching,'  being 
principal  of  the  fifth  ward  schools  in  Allegheny  from  1879  to  1889. 
He  then  became  principal  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  normal  school 
at  Slippery  Rock,  which  he  organized  in  March,  1889;  and  in  1891 
was  elected  teacher,  and  in  1892  principal,  of  the  Allegheny  high 
school.  Mr.  Morrow  was  married,  in  1867,  to  Clara  J.  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  John  J.  and  Rebecca  M.  Johnson,  of  Cumberland,  Md., 
the  latter  now  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  with  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Morrow,  in  Allegheny  city.  To  this  union  were  born 
eight  children,  three  of  whom,  Fred,  Earle  and  Ralph,  are 
deceased;  Agnes,  the  wife  of  Richard  B.  Scandrett,  Esq.  ;  Jay  J., 
who  is  captain  of  United  States  engineers;  Alice,  a  teacher  in  the 
third  ward  schools,  and  Dwight  W.,  a  graduate  of  Amherst,  Mass., 
now  of  Englewood,  N.  J.,  a  member  of  the  New  York  city  bar 
and  connected  with  the  firm  of  Simpson,  Barnum,  Thatcher  & 
Bartlett,  Broad  Exchange  building.  New  York  city;  and  Hilda, 
wife  of  Rev.  Edwin  Linton  McElwaine,  Presbyterian  minister,  of 
Emlenton,  Pa. 


402 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


PROF.  JOHN  A.  JOHNSTON,  prin- 
cipal of  the  fourth  ward  school,  No.  2, 
Allegheny,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Brownsville, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  William  H.  Johnston, 
a  well-known  contractor  of  building 
operations  in  that  section  of  the  country. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  the  Millersville  State 
normal,  of  which  institution  he  is  a 
graduate.  After  teaching  two  years  in 
the  soldiers'  orphans'  school  at  Union- 
town,  he  became  principal  of  schools  at 
Belle  Vernon,  then  at  West  Newton, 
Westmoreland  county,  leaving  the  latter  place  to  become  principal 
of  the  Johnstown  high  school.  In  January,  1888,  he  resigned  to 
accept  his  present  position.  Professor  Johnston  is  a  brother  of 
Prof.  Edward  P.  Johnston,  of  the  seventh  ward  schools.  Professor 
Johnston  stands  as  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  the  city,  and  his 
long  experience  and  faithful  devotion  to  the  cause  of  good  schools, 
have  made  him  an  influence  and  a  factor  in  educational  circles  sec- 
ond to  none.  On  April  5,  1900,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Isabelle 
Hunter  Robertson,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Agnes  (Had- 
dow)  Robertson,  a  United  Presbyterian  minister  living  a  retired  life 
at  East  End,  Pittsburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  have  two  children, 
John  Adelbert  and  Janet  Margretta.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the   Episcopal  church. 


JOHN  FAIRFIELD,  of  Hites,  Pa.,  a 
prosperous  farmer,  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  May  8,  1835,  son  of  Richard  and 
Prudence  (Grififin)  Fairfield,  both  natives 
of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Pittsburg  in  1832 
and  there  remained  until  185 1,  when  they 
removed  to  a  farm  of  127  acres  which 
they  had  purchased  in  East  Deer  town- 
ship. In  1863  they  returned  to  Pittsburg 
and  lived  in  that  city  until  their  deaths. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  survive  their  parents.  Richard 
Fairfield  was  a  whig,  later  a  republican, 
and  owned  property  in  Pittsburg,  Hatfield  and  elsewhere.  He  and 
his  wife  were  prominentl}^  identified  with  the  Methodist  church,  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


403 


which  they  were  leading  members.  John  Fairfield  was  reared  in 
Pittsburg-,  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  began 
his  business  career  hauling  coal  in  that  city.  In  1851-2  he  came 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  has  followed  general  farming,^ 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  Chester  white  hogs.  Mr. 
Fairfield  is  a  republican,  served  one  term  as  assessor,  and  for 
thirteen  years  he  has  been  school  director.  He  was  married,  in 
1862,  to  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Catherine  (Jones) 
Stephens,  both  reared  and  educated  in  their  native  country  of  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1837.  John  C.  Stephens 
purchased  a  farm  in  West  Deer  township  in  1845;  there  his  wife 
died  in  1852,  and  the  same  year  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death  in  1857.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairfield  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  three  deceased.  The  living  are :  Robert  H, , 
George  R.,  John  C,  Florence,  Alma  M.  and  Olive  A.  Mr. 
Fairfield  was  one  of  the  first  grand  jurymen  that  sat  in  the  new 
court-house  at  Pittsburg,  the  year  of  the  centennial  of  the  settle- 
ment of  Allegheny  county. 


DAVID  REEL,  Jr.,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Ross  township,  is  a  descendant  of 
Casper  Reel,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Alle- 
gheny county.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  the  first  settlers  of  Ross  township 
were  generally  men  of  sterling  worth. 
They  were  just  the  men  best  fitted  to 
hew  their  way  through  the  forests  of  the 
new  country,  and  were  morally,  physi- 
cally and  intellectually  endowed  to  suc- 
cessfully lay  the  solid  foundations  for  the 
future  generations  to  permanently  rest 
upon,  as  well  as  for  the  greatness  of  our 
country.  Physically,  they  were  stalwarts,  capable  of  enduring 
the  hardships  that  confronted  them  in  the  gigantic  labors  that  lay 
before  them.  Being  energetic,  they  persevered,  and  the  giant  oaks 
fell  before  them,  to  be  replaced  by  beautiful  green  fields  of  grain 
and  vegetation.  Orchards  and  vineyards  were  planted,  and  thus 
was  agriculture  and  horticulture  firmly  established.  Morally,  they 
were  Christians,  and  the  same  energetic  spirit  was  manifested  by 
them  in  the  establishment  of  churches  or  places  of  worship,  as  well 
as  in  worldly  affairs.  Intellectually,  the  needs  of  education  were 
not  lost  sight  of,  and  school-houses  were  built  of  such  rude  material 


4D4  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

as  the  forests  furnished  for  their  construction.  Yet,  rude  as  they 
were,  the  principles  taught  in  those  log-cabin  school-houses,  were 
the  good  seeds  sown  that  were  destined  to  crop  out  in  the  present 
and  future  greatness  of  our  country.  Such  were  the  toils  and 
labors  of  our  ancestors.  What  of  the  generations  that  have  de- 
scended from  these  nobilities  of  the  young  republic?  Have  they 
taken  up  the  work  where  the  fathers  laid  it  down?  Has  the  same 
sterling  and  progressive  spirit  animated  the  children  along  the  lines 
of  demarkations?  Have  the  moral  and  the  intellectual  qualifica- 
tions established  by  the  patriot  fathers  been  fostered  and  cultured? 
the  answer  most  emphatically  is  "Yes,  "  The  children  have  taken  it 
up  where  the  fathers  laid  it  down,  and  have  placed  it  upon  a  higher 
plane.  The  succeeding  generations,  upon  their  advent,  have  taken 
it  up,  and  are  pressing  firmly  forward  and  upward,  bearing  aloft 
the  standard  of  this  mighty  republic,  until  it  is  honored  and  feared 
by  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  All  honor  and  love  is  due  these 
dear,  brave,  old  patriot  fathers.  Peaceful  be  their  silent  slumber. 
Memory  of  them  will  ever  be  cherished  and  honored  by  succeeding 
generations,  who  will  live  and  flourish  upon  the  fruits  of  their 
labor. 

Casper  Reel  (great-grandsire),  the  first  settler  of  Ross  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Frankfort,  Germany,  May  ii,  1742.  He  first 
located  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he  became  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  served  under  the  command  of  General 
Washington.  He  participated  in  many  of  tlie  varied  engagements 
of  the  war,  among  which  was  the  battle  of  Brandywine.  A  few  of 
his  old  relics  are  still  in  the  possession  of  some  of  his  grandchil- 
dren, among  which  is  his  old  watch,  now  in  the  possession  of  his 
granddaughter,  Almatia  L.  Reel,  and  his  Bible — which  he  carried 
through  the  war,  and  which  was  not  only  a  saviour  of  the  soul, 
but  of  the  body  as  well,  for  it  warded  off  a  bullet  that  otherwise 
would  have  killed  him — is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson, 
Jacob  G.  Reel,  He  came  to  Allegheny  county  in  1783,  and 
when  the  assembly  (legislature)  passed  the  land  grant  act,  giving 
to  settlers  large  tracts  of  land  upon  which  to  settle,  he  took  up  a 
large  square  tract  of  land,  containing  about  1,000  acres,  which 
afterwards  proved  to  be  the  choicest  land  in  Ross  township.  It  is 
authoritatively  stated  that  he  measured  it  with  a  grape  vine.  In 
making  a  selection  of  land  he  had  the  choice  of  the  site  upon 
which  Allegheny  city  is  built,  but  deeming  the  land  unfit  for  agri- 
cultural purposes  on  account  of  its  low,  swampy  nature,  he  pro- 
ceeded northward  about  eight  miles  from  Fort  Pitt  and  located  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  405 

present  Reel  farm,  which  has  become  famous  as  the  choicest  farm 
in  the  township.  Recently  a  large  portion  of  this  farm  was  sold 
to  a  wealthy  land  company,  who  intended  laying  it  out  in  large 
town  lots,  the  object  being  to  establish  a  wealthy  suburban  town  and 
to  connect  it  by  electric  railway  with  the  city.  In  the  spring  of 
1792  he  built  a  log  cabin  upon  his  tract  and  planted  some  peach  and 
apple  seeds,  but  the  Indians  became  troublesome,  having  come  in 
large  numbers  from  the  Ohio  territory,  so  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  his  cabin  and  return  to  Fort  Pitt.  About  this  time 
General  Wayne,  with  3,000  troops,  was  sent  out  against  the 
Indians,  and  so  completely  routed  and  defeated  them  that  they 
never  gave  the  settlers  any  further  trouble.  In  the  year  1795 
Mr.  Reel  returned  to  his  land  and  was  delighted  to  find  his 
fruit  seeds  had  produced  fine  young  trees.  Some  of  the  peach 
trees  were  producing  fruit.  He  at  once  built  a  log  house  and 
moved  his  family  into  it,  and  this  became  his  permanent  abode. 
The  road  cut  through  the  forest  to  reach  his  land  was  continued  by 
other  settlers,  and  afterwards  became  the  Franklin  road.  Previous 
to  his  location  here  he  had  been  an  extensive  trapper,  and  was  an 
expert  fur-dresser,  from  which  occupation  he  had  made  a  consider- 
able sum  of  money.  Fur-bearing  animals  were  plentiful,  especially 
along  the  Beaver  river,  where  he  had  many  traps  set.  He  fre- 
quently visited  these  traps  by  a  canoe  down  the  Ohio  river.  Once, 
upon  returning  from  his  traps  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law, 
John  Wise,  he  was  hailed  by  a  white  man,  who,  in  a  pleading  man- 
ner, wanted  to  be  taken  on  board;  but  instead  of  heeding  the 
appeals  of  the  white  man,  he  gradually  headed  his  canoe  to  the 
opposite  shore,  and  at  the  same  time  kept  up  an  evasive  conversa- 
tion about  the  Indians.  His  brother-in-law  insisted  that  they 
should  go  to  his  relief,  but  was  ordered  to  lie  down  in  the  canoe. 
Scarcely  had  he  done  so,  when  the  Indians  rose  from  their  ambush 
and  fired  upon  the  canoe.  Fortunately  for  the  occupants,  they 
escaped  unharmed,  although  the  canoe  was  hit  in  several  places. 
This  man  with  whom  he  had  the  conversation  was  Simon  Girty,  the 
Indian  renegade. 

Previous  to  1795  it  was  the  custom  of  the  settlers  to  assist  each 
other  in  the  raising  of  their  log  houses,  and  for  this  purpose  there 
was  a  gathering  of  the  settlers  at  the  Winebiddle  farm.  Among 
the  number  was  an  Indian,  who  professed  to  be  friendly  with  the 
whites,  but  when  he  finally  came  under  the  influence  of  the  fire- 
water, drunk  on  such  occasions,  his  Indian  propensities  became 
obvious.     His  bragging  about  the  number  of  white  scalps  he  had 


406  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

taken  so  enraged  Casper  Reel  that  he  sprang  upon  the  Indian,  and 
with  one  slash  of  his  knife  cut  off  his  ear  so  quickly  that  the  Indian 
scarcely  knew  who  did  it. 

Casper  Reel  was  the  first  collector  north  of  the  Allegheny  river, 
his  territory  extending  to  the  lakes.  He  was  married,  March  2, 
1784,  to  Elizabeth  Wise,  who  was  born  Oct.  2,  1760,  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  died  Aug.  20,  1843.  The)'-  had  ten  children,  namely: 
Mary,  Jacob,  John,  Daniel,  Conrad,  David  and  Casper,  Jr.  (twins), 
William  and  a  twin  sister,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  George  Quaill).  In  giving  the  order  of  births  of  this  family 
to  a  former  historian  of  the  county,  Casper,  Jr.,  was  mentioned 
before  David,  when,  in  fact,  David  was  born  several  hours  before 
Casper.  This  correction  places  David,  instead  of  Casper,  as  the 
first  white  child  born  north  of  the  Allegheny  river.  The  order  of 
their  deaths  is  as  follows:  In  their  younger  ages,  Daniel,  Jacob  and 
John — the  latter,  while  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  died 
at  Fort  Maumee  Rapids,  April  6,  1813,  aged  twenty-three  years — 
and  William,  who  was  thrown  from  a  fractious  horse.  The  more 
recent  deaths  have  been  those  of  David,  in  his  seventieth  year; 
Conrad,  in  his  seventy-sixth  year;  Mary  (Mrs.  Johnson),  in  her 
ninety-sixth  year,  and  Casper,  Jr.,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 

After  Casper  Reel  had  moved  his  family  to  his  new  home,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  clearing  off  the  land.  Gradually  he  became 
thoroughly  established  upon  the  farm,  though  not  without  the  pri- 
vations and  inconveniences  that  are  always  connected  with  the  set- 
tlement of  new  portions  of  the  country.  Happily,  they  were  not  of 
long  duration.  Fur  animals  becoming  scarce,  trapping  was  aban- 
doned, and  consequently  the  settlement  of  the  country  became  more 
rapid.  Isaac  Ritche  came  next,  taking  up  a  large  tract  of  land  upon 
the  west  side  of  Casper  Reel's  farm.  Others  followed  in  rapid  suc- 
cession, among  whom  were  the  Morrows,  the  Goods,  the  Hilands, 
the  McKnights  and  many  others.  The  town  (Pittsburg)  was  much 
more  rapidly  settled;  in  fact,  the  settlement  of  the  town  was  so 
rapid  that  it  actually  became  a  market  for  much  of  the  surplus 
products  of  the  land  that  had  now  become  cultivated  by  these  early 
settlers.  Thus  were  they  all  brought  into  the  channels  of  success- 
ful progression.  Casper  Reel  was  considered  the  wealthiest  settler 
in  Ross  township,  and  was  a  man  of  great  influence  among  the 
early  settlers,  to  whom  he  often  loaned  money.  He  was  a  most 
successful  farmer  and  fruit  culturist.  Through  his  influence  and 
foresight  the  Highland  Presbyterian  church  was  established  and 
located  upon   its  present  site.     In  after  years  the  location  of  this 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  407 

church  proved  to  be  a  most  central  one,  and  by  the  continuous 
accessions  of  settlers  it  became  a  numerous  body,  although  it 
passed  through  many  of  the  vicissitudes  that  follow  in  the  wake  of 
religious  institutions,  and  it  is  still  a  stanch  old  church,  and  at 
present  bids  fair  to  be  a  church  for  generations  to  come.  The 
large  burial  ground  attached  to  the  church  was  the  free,  common 
burial  ground  for  all,  and  in  it  lie  the  bodies  of  many  of  the  former 
worshipers,  but  of  late  years  the  ground  has  been  greatly  improved 
and  a  better  system  adopted.  The  oldest  person  buried  here  is 
John  McKnight,  aged  loi  years.  In  1795,  at  the  farm  residence 
of  Casper  Reel,  occurred  the  first  marriage  in  Ross  township.  It 
was  the  union  of  Christopher  Rineman  and  Charlotte  Zimmerman. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Squire  Robinson,  father  of  the 
late  Gen.  William  Robinson,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  the  wedding 
present  was  a  pailful  of  cherries.  The  death  of  Casper  Reel 
occurred  Oct.  10,  1824.  He  was  buried  in  a  selected  plot  of  ground 
upon  the  farm  where,  in  after  years,  his  wife  and  sister-in-law  and 
a  part  of  the  family  were  also  buried.  His  grave  is  still  pointed 
out  to  succeeding  generations. 

David  Reel,  Sr.,  was  born  Jan.  22,  1795,  upon  the  first  farm 
that  was  settled  in  Ross  township,  north  of  Fort  Pitt.  Notwith- 
standing the  very  meager  facilities  and  the  limited  means  for  edu- 
cation, Casper  Reel  provided  his  children  with  an  education 
sufficie-nt  for  the  transaction  of  business  in  the  times  in  which  they 
lived.  When  David  had  grown  to  manhood,  he  engaged  in  the 
shipping  of  merchandise  from  Philadelphia  by  wagon.  He  became 
one  of  the  most  successful  men  in  the  business,  being  entrusted 
with  large  sums  of  money  to  pay  for  goods  bought  in  Philadelphia. 
The  business  of  shipping  goods  to  and  from  Philadelphia  by  wagons 
became  immense,  but  when  the  canal  was  built  it  ceased  altogether. 
The  next  business  to  engage  his  attention  was  delivering  mail 
between  Pittsburg  and  Butler  by  stage-coach  After  continuing 
the  business  successfully  for  some  years,  he  married  Isabella 
Wiley,  the  daughter  of  sterling  parents,  and  after  tlie  death  of  his 
father  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  to  improve  and  cultivate 
that  portion  of  it  received  from  his  father,  nearly  all  of  which  was 
heavily  timbered.  He  built  a  log  house  in  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
and,  like  his  father,  began  life  in  the  woods.  As  charcoal  was  in 
great  demand  at  that  time  in  Pittsburg,  he  manufactured  much  of 
his  timber  into  it.  By  this  he  was  enabled  not  only  to  clear  off  the 
ground  for  cultivation,  but  to  make  some  money  besides. 

Four  children  were  born   in  this  forest  home.      They  were: 


408  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

George  Washington,  David,  Jr.,  Mary  (who  died  m  infancy),  and 
Wiley.  The  oldest  son,  William,  was  born  previous  to  the  return 
to  the  farm.  It  is  worthy  of  note  here  that  in  the  latter  years  in 
which  he  lived  in  this  log  house  it  became  famous  for  the  establish- 
ment of  Methodism  in  that  part  of  the  county.  About  the  first 
Methodist  camp-meetings  held  in  western  Pennsylvania  were  on  a 
portion  of  this  and  the  adjoining  farm,  belonging  to  George  Quaill. 
As  a  result  of  these  camp-meetings,  there  was  established  a  society 
of  worshipers  upon  a  more  secure  foundation,  the  outgrowth  of 
which  is  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Bellevue.  The  society 
formerly  worshiped  in  the  little  old  school-house  in  Jack's  Run. 
Ministers  were  annually  sent  by  the  conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  to  take  charge  of  the  circuit,  which  included 
Jack's  Run.  Usually  two  were  sent,  one  being  a  single  man,  who 
sought  his  home  among  the  membership.  Among  the  number  of 
single  men  who  were  sent  to  this  circuit,  who  made  their  home 
principally  at  David  Reel's,  were  John  J.  Jackson,  Hiram  Miller 
and  Joseph  Horner,  D.  D.  The  latter  remained  two  years,  and 
made  his  home  entirely  with  David  Reel.  He  became  as  one  of 
the  family  circle,  and  was  loved  as  a  son  and  brother.  At  present 
he  is  still  living,  and  with  pleasure  refers  back  to  those  days  as 
being  the  most  pleasant  and  happiest  years  in  his  life. 

David  Reel,  being  successful  in  his  labors  upon  the  farm,  built 
a  more  modern  house  upon  another  part  of  it.  This  house  is  noted 
for  the  superior  quality  of  lumber  from  which  it  is  built,  it  having 
been  selected  from  the  choicest  lumber  of  the  yards,  which,  in 
those  days,  contained  lumber  of  a  better  quality  than  that  of  the 
present  day.  In  July,  1852,  he  moved  into  the  new  house,  accom- 
panied by  Joseph  Horner,  who  remained  with  them  the  balance  of 
his  second  conference  year.  After  having  lived  in  the  new  house 
for  a  few  years,  he  purchased  a  house  and  lot  in  the  town  of  Perrys- 
ville.  This  he  greatly  improved  and  moved  into,  having  retired 
from  actual  labor  upon  the  farm.  After  spending  some  years  of 
peaceful  rest  from  toil  and  care,  he  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
Highland  church  cemetery.  His  wife,  who  survived  him  some  six 
years,  was  buried  by  his  side. 

William  Valentine,  the  oldest  son,  was  a  soldier  in  the  136th 
regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Thomas  M.  Bayne,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Antietam  and  Chancellorsville. 
At  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service,  which  was  nine  months, 
he  returned,  and  was  afterwards  married  to  Elizabeth  Spence,  to 
whom  was  born  a  son,  Wiley  Graham.     After  the  death  of  David 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


409 


Reel,  Sr.,  William  moved  to  the  farm  upon  which  the  new  house 
was  iDuilt'.     Shortly  after  moving  to  the  farm,  his  wife  died.     His 
second   marriage    to    Elizabeth    Jackman,    daughter    of    Andrew 
Jackman,  a  highly-respected  farmer  of  Ohio  township,  occurred  a 
few  years  later,  and  by  this  second  marriage  there  were  born  five 
children,   namely,  John  J.,  Mary  E.,  Isabella    E..   Myrtle  E.  and 
Matilda  Jane.     Mary,  the  oldest  daughter,  was  married  to  Marion 
Taylor,  of  Ohio,  on  Jan.  i,  1902,  and  to  them  a  daughter  was  born. 
William  Reel  is  still  living  upon  the  farm,  and  is  highly  respected 
as  being  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  Ross  township.     Religiously, 
he  is  a''  Methodist,  being  for  many  years  a  worthy  trustee  in  the 
Methodist    Episcopal    church   of    Bellevue.       Politically,    he   is   a 
republican.     George  W.,  the  second  son,  and  Wiley,  the  youngest 
son,  enlisted  in  Company  E,   loist  regiment,  and  participated  in 
the'  various   engagements    about    Newbern.       They   were    finally 
captured  and  sent  to  Andersonville  prison,  where  George  died. 
Wiley,  who  survived  the  inhuman  treatment  of  the  prison,  was 
accidentally  drowned  near   Fortress  Monroe,   on  his   way   home. 
David,  Jr.,  was  born  Jan.  i,  1837,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  took  a  commercial  course  in  the  Iron  City 
college,'  of  Pittsburg.     When  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  the  first 
call  for  troops  was  made,  he  enlisted  in  a  company  commanded  by 
Thomas  M.  Bayne.     They  were  sent  to  camp  at  Wheeling,  but  the 
quota  being  filled,  the  company  was  ordered  to  return  to  Pittsburg, 
where  it  disbanded.     Returning  home,  he  lived  with  his  parents, 
who  were  then  residing  in  Perrysville.     On  Sept.  13,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried Annie  Redpath,  the  oldest  daughter  of  John  Redpath,  one  of 
the  most  successful  and  influential  farmers  of  McCandless  town- 
ship.    After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Allegheny  city.     His  stay 
there  was  of  short  duration.     According  to  the  urgent  request  of  his 
parents,   that  he  should  live  with  or  near  them,  he  returned  to 
Perrysville.     After  the  birth  of  his  oldest  son,  Ellis,  which  occurred 
on  Aug.  29,  1867,  he  moved  into  the  old  log  house  in  which  he  was 
born,  and  lived  there  until  the  new  house,  which  was  then  being 
erected,  was  finished.     At  the  death  of  his  father,  David,  Sr.,  this 
portion  of  the  estate  fell  to  him,  and  here  he  has  since  resided. 
There    were    subsequently   born    to    him    two    sons,    Watson,    on 
Dec.    7,  1869,    and   Casper,    in   October,    1875.     David    Reel,    Jr., 
became  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  successful  fruit  culturists  in 
the  township.     Many  articles  were  written  by  him  and  published 
in  the  various  publications  of  the  county.     Among  the  most  noted 
articles  written  by  him  is  one  entitled  *'The  Cause,  the  Eflfect  and 


410  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

the  Suggested  Remedy  for  the  Pear  Blight,"  published  in  the 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer,  of  Pittsburg.  It  attracted  the 
attention  of  many  of  the  principal  agricultural  writers  of  the 
country,  who  spoke  very  highly  of  the  article. 

Religiously,  David  Reel,  Jr.,  is  a  Methodist.  He  was  the  prin- 
cipal leader  in  the  removal  of  the  society  from  Jack's  Run  to  the 
school  hall  in  Bellevue.  In  a  meeting  shortly  after  the  society  was 
located  in  the  school  hall,  he,  in  company  with  six  other  trustees, 
decided  to  build  a  church,  and,  to  make  a  beginning  at  once,  they 
entered  into  a  joint  note  of  $i,ooo.  A  building  committee  was 
appointed,  among  whom  was  David  Reel,  Jr.,  and  upon  him 
devolved  the  entire  charge  and  superintendence  of  the  work.  How 
far  the  enterprise  was  successful  from  beginning  to  finish  may  be 
seen  by  the  church  of  to-day,  which  is  among  the  most  substantia] 
appointments  of  the  Pittsburg  conference.  He  declares  the  building 
up  of  this  church  to  be  the  best  work  of  his  life 

Ellis,  the  first  son  of  David,  Jr.,  was  married  to  Margaret 
Kercher,  a  most  influential  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Avalon.  The  wedding  took  place  Feb.  29,  1899.  Watson  A.,  the 
second  son,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Preston,  daughter  of  D.  I. 
Preston,  of  Bellevue.  This  marriage  occurred  Nov.  15,  1899.  ^'^ 
him  was  born  a  son,  Charles  Preston,  on  April  21,  1902.  Ellis  Reel 
is  at  present  a  house-painter  and  resides  at  Bellevue.  Watson  A. 
is  a  florist  and  fruit  culturist  on  the  farm.  Casper  is  an  artistic 
house-painter,  and  resides  with  his  parents. 

In  politics,  David  Reel,  Jr.,  was  formerly  a  republican.  He 
takes  great  pride  in  stating  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  the  first 
president  for  whom  he  voted.  Later  he  became  a  prohibitionist, 
and  has  been  nominated  by  the  party  for  the  legislature  in  the 
seventh  district. 

The  old  log  house  which  was  built  seventy-five  years  ago,  the 
only  log  house  in  existence  in  that  section  of  the  country,  has  been 
substantially  repaired,  and  with  a  little  attention  will  stand  the 
passage  of  time  for  another  generation,  as  a  relic  of  old  times. 

There  is  one  notable  feature  of  this  family  extending  from 
Casper  Reel,  the  great-grandfather,  down  to  the  fourth  generation, 
including  many  of  its  branches,  and  that  is  the  temperate  and 
sober  habits  of  which  all  are  possessed. 

To  these  grand  old  patriot  fathers  and  settlers  we  owe  much 
gratitude  for  the  benefits,  the  blessings  and  the  comforts  we  enjoy 
from  the  outgrowth  of  their  toils  and  tribulations,  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  this  mighty  republic. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  411 

JOSEPH  P.  HILLDORFER,  who 
represents  the  tenth  ward  of  Allegheny 
city,  Pa.,  in  the  common  council,  is  a  fine 
example  of  a  self-made  man.  He  was 
born  in  the  eighth  ward  of  Allegheny  city 
in  1871,  and  is  the  son  of  P.  J.  and  Burga 
K:  ^^  ~^^^H  Hilldorfer,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
M         A-  ^^^V      ^^^^'    ^^^    ^'^^    latter    in     1900.       Eight 

W-^^^.  '^  ^^^M  months  in  the  common  schools  comprises 
all  the  schooling  of  Joseph  P.  Hilldorfer, 
for  upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  took 
up  the  work  of  selling  papers  and  black- 
ing boots  about  the  Allegheny  and  Pitts- 
burg markets  to  assist  his  mother.  He  followed  this  business  until 
he  was  twelve  years  old,  when  the  butchers  about  the  market 
began  to  employ  him  as  errand  boy.  Here  is  where  the  inherent 
strength  of  character  of  Mr.  Hilldorfer  first  began  to  be  made  man- 
ifest. When  he  was  sent  upon  an  errand  he  did  not  tarry  by  the 
wayside,  and  upon  his  return  he  always  made  a  truthful  report. 
After  two  years  of  this  kind  of  service  he  found  employment  in  the 
slaughter-house  of  one  of  the  leading  butchers,  where  he  worked 
for  three  years.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  killing  and  dressing  of  meats  at  the  Western  Pennsylvania 
hospital,  being  the  youngest  man  who  ever  held  that  responsible 
position.  In  1890  he  left  the  hospital  and  went  to  the  Pittsburg 
market  as  an  employe,  and  three  years  later  formed  a  partnership 
with  John  S.  Wilson  and  went  into  business  for  himself.  The 
firm  of  Wilson  &  Hilldorfer  dissolved  in  1899.  and  was  succeeded 
by  that  of  Hilldorfer  &  Allman,  which  still  continues.  Mr. 
Hilldorfer  was  elected,  in  February,  1903,  as  one  of  the  republican 
candidates  to  represent  the  tenth  ward  in  the  common  council,  and 
upon  the  organization  of  that  body,  he  was  appointed  upon  the 
committees  of  public  safety,  charities,  surveys  and  police,  and  was 
made  chairman  of  the  health  committee.  He  is  a  life  member  of 
Allegheny  lodge,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  a  member  of  Pittsburg  Aerie, 
No.  76,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  In  1890  Mr.  Hilldorfer  was 
married  to  Miss  Alice  Simpson,  of  Latrobe,  Pa,,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Marie  and  Bennie.  There  is  an  example  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Hilldorfer  that  is  worthy  of  the  emulation  of  every  young 
man.  From  the  humble  newsboy  and  bootblack  he  has  risen  to  be 
one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  his  native  city,  his  only 
talisman  being  an  untiring  energy  and  a  spotless  integrity, 


412  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


J.  O.  BROWN, 

Recorder, 
Pittsburg,  Pa. 


D.  M.  PITCOCK, 
McKeesport.  Pa. 


E.  A.  LAWRENCE, 

Attorney, 
Sharpsburg,  Pa. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  413 

WILLIAM  J.  PARKER,  a  prominent 
citizen  and  the  leading  contractor  and 
builder  of  the  town  of  Avalon,  Pa,,  was 
born  in  Findlay  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  Jan.  5,  1S55.  His  parents,  Robert 
and  Margaret  (Ferguson)  Parker,  were 
natives  of  County  Down,  Ireland,  but 
came  to  America  in  1845,  settling  in 
Pittsburg,  Pa.  William  is  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children.  His  father, 
Robert  Parker,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
came  to  America  the  same  year  as  his 
parents.  He  died  while  on  his  way  back 
to  Ireland  on  a  visit,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the  cemetery  of  Hills- 
boro,  Ireland.  Robert  Parker  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but 
owing  to  his  failing  health,  he  was  advised  to  engage  in  farm  work 
for  the  benefit  from  the  outdoor  air  and  exercise.  Following  this 
advice,  he  removed  to  Moon  township,  where  he  became  a  success- 
ful farmer,  and  afterwards  achieved  considerable  reputation  as  a 
stock  dealer.  Much  of  the  farm  work  and  the  responsibilities  of 
the  management  fell  upon  William,  thus  restricting  his  opportuni- 
ties to  acquire  an  education,  though  he  managed  to  attend,  for  a 
time,  the  schools  of  his  native  township.  The  lessons  he  learned 
in  contact  with  the  actual  duties  and  demands  of  his  father's  busi- 
ness were  perhaps  more  valuable  to  him  in  his  life-work  than  mere 
book-learning  would  have  been.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  began  learning  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  being  of  a  mechanical 
turn  of  mind,  he  soon  became  one  of  the  best  workmen  in  the 
county.  In  1878  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Herman  Knoppf 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  business  of  contracting  and 
building.  This  partnership  lasted  about  four  years,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Parker  has  conducted  the  business  alone.  His  work  has 
been  confined  mainly  to  the  suburban  towns  about  Pittsburg  and 
Allegheny  city.  Avalon,  the  town  in  which  he  resides,  has  a 
population  of  over  4,000,  yet  a  majority  of  the  residences  have 
been  erected  under  his  personal  supervision.  Honesty  and  punctu- 
ality have  been  his  distinguishing  characteristics  throughout  his 
entire  business  career,  and  his  highest  aim  has  been  to  bring  to  the 
town  of  Avalon  a  good  class  of  citizens.  His  unselfish  devotion  to 
the  public  weal  won  for  him  the  regard  of  his  fellow-townsmen, 
and  he  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  as  burgess  and  in  the  council, 
and  has  for  several  years  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education. 


414  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

In  all  matters  pertaining  to  state  or  national  politics,  he  is  an 
unswerving  republican,  and  he  is  an  influential  factor  in  determin- 
ing the  local  policies  of  his  party.  Besides  his  large  business  as  a 
contractor,  Mr.  Parker  is  interested  in  a  number  of  other  enter- 
prises. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Bellevue  realty,  savings  and 
trust  company;  the  Allegheny  fire  insurance  company,  of  Alle- 
gheny city;  the  Trilby  mining  company,  of  Idaho;  the  Ohio  Valley 
building  and  loan  association,  of  Avalon;  the  Frank  Vogel  company, 
manufacturers  of  pickles  and  preserves,  in  which  he  is  also  a 
director;  the  Masonic  Hall  association,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  the 
Crawford  County  electric  railroad  company,  of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  chief  organizers.  Mr.  Parker  is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles, 
being  a  member  and  past  master  of  Allegheny  lodge,  No.  223, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  a  past  high  priest  of  Allegheny  chap- 
ter. No.  217,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  member  of  Allegheny  command- 
ery.  No.  35,  Knights  Templars,  in  which  he  is  also  one  of  the  drill 
corps;  Allegheny  council;  Pittsburg  consistory,  in  which  he  holds 
the  thirty-second  degree,  and  Syria  temple.  Ancient  and  Accepted 
Nobles  of  the  ^lystic  Shrine,  in  which  he  holds  a  life  membership. 
He  is  also  a  life  member,  as  well  as  a  charter  member,  of  Alle- 
gheny lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  West  Bellevue  council, 
No.  240,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  ^Mechanics,  and  Clifton 
lodge.  No.  1066,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  On  Dec.  30, 
1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  J,  Dickson,  daughter  of  James 
Dickson,  of  Neville  island.  To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
seven  children,  viz. :  Xenia  B.,  William  Jerome,  Jr.,  Margaretta  F., 
James  Dickson,  David  La  Verne,  Samuel  Hugh  and  Algernon 
Bell,  the  two  last  named  being  twins.  Mrs.  Parker  has  a  natural 
talent  in  music,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  instructor  and 
organist  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Neville  island. 

THEO.  TONNELE,  son  of  J.  L.  and  Katherine  N.  Tonnele, 
and  for  twenty  years  chemist  for  the  W.  Deweese-Wood  company, 
now  the  American  sheet  steel  company,  was  born  in  New  York  city 
in  1858.  As  a  boy,  he  attended  private  schools,  and  completed  his 
education  at  the  Columbia  school  of  mines,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1880.  Upon  graduation  he  worked  as  chemist  for 
Professor  Richets,  of  New  York ;  two  years  for  W.  P.  Shinn,  at 
Wampum,  Pa.,  and  in  1882  came  to  McKeesport  to  enter  the 
employ  of  the  W.  Deweese-Wood  company  in  the  same  capacity. 
He  has  been  in  the  employ  of  this  company  ever  since,  and  during 
his  long  service   has  won  the  confidence  of  his  employers  by  his 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  415 

ability  and  faithful  attention  to  duty.  Mr.  Tonnele  was  married, 
in  1883,  to  Miss  Isabella  P.  Mills,  of  Hastings-upon-Hudson,  N.  Y., 
and  has  one  son,  Theo.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  McKeesport  lodge. 
No.  136,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  which  he  has  served  two  terms  as  exalted 
rule;-,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He  also 
belongs  to  various  clubs  and  societies,  viz. :  the  Daqiiesne  club, 
University  club,  Americus  club,  all  of  Pittsburg;  the  Pittsburg 
country  club,  the  American  society  of  mining  engineers,  the  Ameri- 
can association  for  the  advancement  of  science,  the  Engineers' 
society  of  western  Pennsylvania,  and  others.  Mr.  Tonnele  is  a 
republican  in  politics.  He  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward,  Pitts- 
burg. He  is  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief,  and  is  a  trustee  of 
the  church. 

GEORGE  H.  CALVERT,  of  Etna, 
Pa.,  a  well-known  lawyer  of  Pittsburg, 
was  born  at  Etna,  Feb.  2,  1873,  and  is  the 
son  of  Alexander  H.  and  Jennie  (Scott) 
Calvert.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  Sheffield,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  came  to 
Etna  in  1868,  and  for  thirty-three  years 
was  pastor  of  the  First  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  that  city.  George  H. 
Calvert  received  his  elementary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 
and  was  graduated  in  civil  engineering 
from  the  Western  university,  of  Pitts- 
burg, in  1893  For  one  year  he  was  engaged  with  the  engineering 
department  of  the  Pennsylvania  &  Lake  Erie  railroad,  at  Pitts- 
burg; later  matriculated  at  the  Pittsburg  law  school,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  well-known  institution  in  1897.  During  the 
time  he  was  a  student  at  the  law  school  he  devoted  his  leisure 
to  reading  in  the  office  of  Samuel  McClay,  a  distinguished  lawyer 
of  Pittsburg,  and  on  his  admission  to  the  bar,  in  1898,  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  office  of  Mr.  McClay.  In  1902  he 
removed  to  his  present  suite  of  offices  at  Nos.  601  and  603  Frick 
building,  and  is  now  enjoying  a  rapidly-increasing  general  practice. 
Mr.  Calvert  has  two  brothers:  Henry  S. ,  political  editor  of  the 
Pittsburg  Leader,  and  J.  Edward,  a  chemist  of  Pittsburg.  Mr. 
Calvert  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Etna, 
the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  alumni  association  of  the  Western  uni- 
versity, of  Pittsburg,  and  is  president  of  the  alumni  association  of 


416  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

the  Pittsburg  law  school.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  bar  asso- 
ciation, is  a  republican,  and  at  present  is  president  of  the  school 
boardof  Etna.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  John  Scott,  a  dis- 
tinguished jurist  of  Beaver  county  and  a  lawyer  of  exceptional 
ability.  Mr.  Calvert  is  well  equipped  for  the  arduous  work  of  a 
legal  career  and  is  highly  regarded  as  an  advocate  by  the  older 
attorneys  of  the  Pittsburg  bar. 

JUSTUS  SCHROEDEL,  member  of  the  common  council  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  from  the  thirteenth  ward,  was  born  in  that 
city  in  187 1,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the  youngest  members  of  either 
branch  of  the  council.  His  parents,  John  and  Katherine 
Schroedel,  are  both  deceased,  the  former  dying  in  1877  and  the 
latter  in  1889.  Justus  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
fourth  ward,  which  he  attended  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and 
then  arranged  with  the  school  board  to  take  the  instruction  in 
German  while  he  was  engaged  in  selling  papers.  He  was  one  of 
the  boys  that  sold  papers  on  the  funeral  train  of  President  Garfield 
as  it  passed  through  Allegheny  city.  In  1890,  in  company  with  his 
two  brothers,  Philip  and  Jacob,  he  started  the  Schroedel  &  Seibel 
news  agency  in  the  East  End,  Pittsburg,  devoting  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  building  up  of  the  concern.  Mr.  Schroedel  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  matters,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  repub- 
lican leaders  of  the  thirteenth  ward.  For  several  years  he  has 
represented  his  ward  as  a  delegate  in  city  and  county  republican 
conventions,  and  for  the  last  six  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  county  committee.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  chosen  to  repre- 
sent the  ward  in  the  common  council,  where  he  has  been  honored 
by  appointment  on  the  committees  on  public  safety,  surveys  and 
city  digest.  He  is  well  known  in  the  club  life  and  fraternal 
organizations  of  the  city,  being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  319,  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics;  Allegheny  council,  No.  229, 
National  Union ;  the  German  mutual  aid  association;  the  German 
beneficial  association,  of  Allegheny;  Troy  Hill  Mannerchor;  the 
Mount  Troy  hunting  and  fishing  club,  and  the  American  social  club 
of  Allegheny.  He  is  also  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
church  of  Allegheny  city.  In  1892  Mr.  Schroedel  was  married  to 
Miss  Katherine  Dahla,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  two  children — 
Roy  H.  and  Esther  S. — have  been  born  to  this  marriage.  Mr. 
Schroedel  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  wide-awake  young  business 
men  of  Allegheny,  as  well  as  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens. 
When  the  reform  movement  was  started  in  Allegheny  county,  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  417 

was  made  vice-chairman,  a  position  he  filled  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  those  engaged  in  the  work,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  com- 
mittee of  thirty-two  to  manage  the  county  campaign  in  favor  of 
good  government.  In  this  work  he  enjoys  the  full  confidence  of 
the  people,  and  his  name  is  frequently  mentioned  in  connection 
with  various  offices  as  a  possible  and  available  candidate.  These 
matters,  however,  do  not  disturb  him  in  the  least.  The  business 
of  the  news  agency  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  it  is  on  a 
well-paying  basis,  and  requires  the  greater  part  of  his  time. 
Should  the  will  of  his  fellow-citizens  elevate  him  to  a  place  of 
greater  trust  and  responsibility  than  the  one  he  now  occupies,  he 
will  not  be  found  wanting  in  either  ability  or  sterling  worth  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  situation. 

WALTER  ASTON,  of  Munhall,  Pa., 
a  skilled  hammerman  for  the  Homestead 
steel  works,  was  born  in  Wolverhampton, 
Staffordshire,  England,  Dec.  i6,  i860, 
son  of  Charles  and  Mary  Aston.  Mr. 
Aston  was  reared  in  Birmingham,  Eng- 
land, educated  in  the  public  schools,  and 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven 
years  at  the  silver-plating  trade.  In 
1883  he  came  to  the  United  States  and 
located  in  Mifflin  township,  where  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Carnegie  steel 
company  as  a  blacksmith's  helper,  which 
position  he  filled  for  a  short  time,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the 
forging  department,  and  has  occupied  his  present  position  of  ham- 
merman for  sixteen  years.  He  was  married,  on  April  6,  1886,  to 
Annie  C,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mary  E.  (Carnahan)  Straney, 
of  Elizabeth,  Pa.,  her  father  a  native  of  Ireland  and  her  mother  born 
at  Elizabeth,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Aston  and  his  wife  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  six  children:  Ada  M.,  William,  Flora  B. , 
Walter,  Earl  F.,  and  Cecelia.  Mr.  Aston  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  progressive  citizens  of  Mifflin  township,  and  by  industry  and 
frugality  has  accumulated  a  fine  competency.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Sons  of  St.  George, 
and  is  assistant  chief  of  the  local  fire  company.  His  political 
affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party,  and,  like  all  citizens 
interested  in  the  proper  government  of  the  community,  he  is  an 
active  figure  in  public  matters. 

1-27 


418  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

GEORGE  A.  GRABE,  a  well-known 
contractor  and  builder,  and  resident  of 
the  first  ward,  Wilkinsburg,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  of  the  same  state, 
in  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  George  G.  and 
Elizabeth  (Frieze)  Grabe,  both  deceased, 
the  father  dying  in  April,  1903,  and  the 
'mother  in  1899.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  of  Butler  county,  where 
he  obtained  a  good,  practical  education, 
he  removed  to  Allegheny  county  and 
began  his  business  career.  In  1879  he 
went  west,  and  from  that  time  until  1887 
followed  the  business  of  a  contractor  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico. 
While  a  resident  of  Silver  City,  N.  M.,  he  was  elected  to  represent 
one  district  in  the  city  council.  In  1890  he  returned  to  Allegheny 
county,  locating  at  Wilkinsburg.  In  1882  he  was  married  to 
Emma  D.  Rosenfelder,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Rosenfelder,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Allegheny  county  and  a  native  of  Germany.  Mr. 
Grabe  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom — four  sons  and  three  daughters — are  still  living,  all  single 
and  at  home.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  for  ten  years  has  belonged 
to  the  Order  of  Heptasophs.  He  is  also  a  member  of  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  church.  In  politics  he  is  an  unswerving  democrat,  and 
is  now  serving  as  councilman  from  the  first  ward  in  the  Wilkins- 
burg city  council,  being  recently  elected  for  a  second  term. 

.  JAMES  L.  KELLY,  one  of  the  leading  young  business  men  of 
Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and  the  popular  representative  of  the  eighth 
ward  in  the  common  council,  was  born  in  the  first  ward  of  Alle- 
gheny city  in  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and  Maria  Kelly. 
When  he  was  about  a  year  old  his  parents  removed  to  the  second 
ward,  where  he  received  his  primary  education  in  the  public  school, 
after  which  he  attended  the  Park  institute.  Upon  leaving  school 
he  decided  to  learn  his  father's  old  trade — that  of  a  slate-roofer — 
and  he  started  in  at  fifty  cents  per  week.  The  readiness  with 
which  he  learned  the  business  soon  took  him  out  of  the  fifty-cent 
class,  however,  and  it  was  not  long  until  he  was  receiving  the 
regular  wages  of  a  journeyman.  In  1901  he  became  a  partner  in 
the  Schmidt  roofing  company,  located  at  Nos.  1018  and  1020  Ohio 
St.,  and  doing  a  general  roofing  business.      Ever  since  reaching  his 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  419 

majority,  Mr.  Kelly  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political  contests, 
co-operating  with  the  republican  party.  He  has  been  a  persistent 
advocate  of  clean  politics  and  an  honest  municipal  government.  In 
1902  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  constable  in  the  eighth  ward,  an 
office  he  still  holds,  but  in  which  he  is  represented  by  George  Wolf. 
In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  ward  in  the 
common  council,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the  water,  library  and 
charity  committees.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Catholic 
church  and  of  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  19,  Knights  of  St.  George. 
He  has  been  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  Slate  and  Tile 
Roofers'  lodge,  No.  2704,  of  Pittsburg,  but  has  not  affiliated  with 
the  order  since  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  and  is  one  of  the 
youngest  mechanics  in  his  line  of  work  in  the  two  cities.  At  the 
time  of  his  admission  to  this  lodge  he  was  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  the  roofers'  organization  in  the  United  States.  For 
five  years  he  filled  the  position  of  financial  secretary  of  the  lodge, 
and  was  for  two  years  president.  In  1899  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Annie  -Wildman,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly 
are  universally  respected  by  the  best  element  of  society  in  Alle- 
gheny city. 

MILLARD  FILMORE  BAKER,  of 
Glenfield,  Pa.,  a  prosperous  ferryman  on 
the  Ohio  river,  was  born  at  McKeesport, 
March  19,  1856,  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  began  business  life  as  a 
deck  hand  on  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio 
river.  He  followed  that  occupation  for 
A    ,*■  '^^^^^  ^    number    of    years,    and    subsequently 

^^^^m/tiKf^BtSjl       became  a  watchman,  in  which  capacity  he 
^^B^yBF'^^^       served  on  the  steamers,   "R.  J.  Grace," 
^^A^H^^r^         "N.     J.     Bigby,"    "Coal     Valley"    and 
^^I^^J^^^  "George  Lyle,"  allfour  of  which  plied  the 

Ohio  river.  Mr.  Baker  then  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  as  a  gardener  on  Neville  island,  which  he 
followed  for  three  years;  then  for  a  year  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chartiers  valley  gas  company,  and  since  that  time  has  been  profit- 
ably engaged  in  his  present  business  of  ferryman.  Mr.  Baker  has 
been  married  three  times — first,  to  Anna  Josephine  Daily,  in  1876, 
who  died  Sept.  2,  1885,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Rhoda, 
Charley  (deceased  July  15,  1883),  George  and  Clara;  on  the  second 
occasion  he  was  married  to  Alice   Sarah   Soult  (deceased   Oct.  5, 


420  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

1896),  who  bore  him  one  child,  Alice,  and  his  third  marriage  was 
with  Alice  Whiteman,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Ella  May. 
Mr.  Baker  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics,  of  which  order  he  has  served  as  warden,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  has  been  successful  in  a  busi- 
ness way,  accumulated  a  competency,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

CHARLES  W.  SIMON,  one  of  the  firm  of  M.  Simon's  Sons, 
planing-mill  operators  and  lumber  dealers,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
city,  Pa.,  in  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Marie  Simon.  For 
many  years  his  father  conducted  the  planing  mill  and  lumber  yard 
at  the  corner  of  Anderson  and  Robinson  streets,  in  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.  He  died  in  1898,  and  his  wife  followed  him  in  1902.  Charles 
Simon  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  third  ward,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  went  into  the  planing  mill  with  his  father.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  father  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  three 
brothers — Harry,  William  and  John — to  continue  the  business, 
which  they  have  done  successfully,  holding  all  the  old  customers 
and  bringing  to  their  support  a  number  of  new  ones.  All  four  of 
the  brothers  are  skilled  in  the  business,  and  punctuality  in  the 
execution  of  orders  is  one  of  the  firm's  distinguishing  characteris- 
tics. Charles  W.  Simon  is,  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  term,  a 
public-spirited  citizen.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  all  movements 
tending  to  promote  the  general  prosperity  of  the  city,  and  is  always 
willing  to  lend  his  aid  toward  injuring  their  success.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  is  usually  found  in  the  campaign  work- 
ing in  behalf  of  his  party  candidates,  but  never  at  the  expense  of 
his  private  business.  From  1889  to  1893  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Allegheny  city  common  council,  and  from  1897  to  1901  he  repre- 
sented the  first  district  in  the  Pennsylvania  legislature.  In  both 
these  positions  his  public  duties  were  discharged  with  the  same 
zeal  and  fidelity  that  has  marked  his  course  in  his  personal  affairs. 
He  was  inarried,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Bolster,  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa,,  and  seven  children  have  been  born  to  their  union. 
They  are:  Ada  E.,  Elsa  A.,  Clara  M.  (deceased),  Elmer  H., 
Herbert  R.,  Charles  W.,  Jr.,  and  Leslie  F.  Mr.  Simon  holds 
membership  in  but  one  fraternal  organization.  He  belongs  to 
Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  influential  members. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  421 

EDWARD  WEAVER  BOLLMAN,  a 
shearman  in  the  Homestead  steel  works, 
is   a   son   of   Andrew   J.  and    Lizzie    W. 
(Weaver)  Bollman,  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania,     but      of      German     descent. 
Andrew    Bollman  is  a  wagon-maker   by 
trade,  and  followed  that   occupation   for 
-..^       ^^^^     many   years.       He    is    now   residing    at 
^A     w      ^^Kf      Freeport,  Pa.     Edward  W.  Bollman  was 
lii^B-    iK'  ^^^r         ^°^^  ^"  Armstrong  county,  Pa.,  Jan.  26, 
^^B   U  ^^W  1861.      He  was  reared  in  Armstrong  and 

^^m  Hi^^^  Butler  counties,   where  he  received   the 

greater  part  of  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  After  leaving  school,  he  served  a  three-year  appren- 
ticeship in  his  father's  wagon  shop,  learning  the  trade  of 
wagon-maker.  In  1881  he  went  to  Homestead  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Homestead  steel  works  as  a  common  laborer. 
Two  months  later  he  was  transferred  to  the  machine  shops,  and 
from  there  to  the  rail  mill.  From  1885  to  1888  he  was  employed 
in  the  steel  mills  near  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  He  returned  to  the 
Homestead  works,  however,  and  since  1893  he  has  held  the  position 
of  shearman  in  what  is  known  as  the  twenty-eight-inch  mill. 
Upon  his  return  from  Wheeling,  in  April,  1888,  he  located  at 
Whitaker.  where  he  has  ever  since  lived.  On  Christmas  day,  1899, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sylvia  M.,  daughter  of  William  H.  and 
Mary  J.  (Venaman)  Marple,  of  McMechen,  W.  Va.  Mr.  Bollman 
is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  Tent  No.  425, 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

CHARLES  O.  DEVERTS,  select  councilman  for  the  fifteenth 
ward  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Allegheny  city  in  the 
year  1864,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Sophia  De verts.  His 
early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  the  third 
ward,  after  which  he  attended  a  German  private  school  for  almost 
two  years,  there  completing  his  education.  On  leaving  school  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  wholesale  millinery  establishment  of 
J.  D.  Bernd  &  Co.  as  an  errand  boy.  He  remained  with  this  firm 
for  twenty-four  years,  filling  every  position  in  the  store.  For  a 
number  of  years  Mr.  Deverts  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical afipairs,  always  acting  with  the  republican  party.  He  was  for 
several  years  a  member  of  the  school  board  from  his  ward,  and  in 
June,  1902,  he  was  elected  by  a  unanimous  vote  to  represent  the 


422  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

ward  in  the  select  council,  where  he  is  the  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  public  works  and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  finance 
and  charities.  Mr.  Deverts  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
and  club  life  of  Allegheny  county,  being  a  member  of  the  Monon- 
gahela  club  of  Pittsburg  and  the  Union  and  Humboldt  clubs  of 
Allegheny  city.  He  is  a  member  and  past  master  of  Stuckrath 
lodge,  No.  430,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Allegheny  chapter, 
No.  217,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Allegheny  commandery.  No.  35, 
Knights  Templars;  Pittsburg  consistory,  in  which  he  holds  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  Syria  temple.  Ancient  and  Accepted 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  of  the  Watson  Presbyterian  church.  In  1890  Mr. 
Deverts  and  ]\Iiss  Annie  Gant,  of  Allegheny  city,  were  made  hus- 
band and  wife,  and  one  son,  Carl,  has  been  born  to  their  marriage. 
In  his  long  and  successful  career  in  business  and  politics,  Mr. 
Deverts  has  made  man}'  friends,  who  speak  of  him  in  terms  of  high 
praise. 

JAMES  R.  CONNOR,  alderman  from 
the  seventh  ward,  Pittsburg,  was  born  on 
a  farm  in  Pine  township,  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.,  Oct.  27,  1869,  and  lived 
there  until  1879.  attending  the  country 
schools.  At  that  time  his  parents  brought 
the  boy  to  Pittsburg,  and  there  he  com- 
pleted his  education  in  the  schools  on  the 
South  Side.  When  eighteen  years  old, 
he  left  school  and  was  for  the  next  three 
years  clerk  in  the  Pittsburg  office  of  the 
Rock  Island  railroad  company.  Before 
his  election  to  his  present  position,  he 
was  for  several  years  agent  for  a  fire  extinguisher.  He  was  elected 
alderman  in  February,  1900,  defeating  S.  T.  Richards,  who  had 
previously  held  the  office  for  fifteen  years.  Very  few  people 
thought  Mr.  Connor  would  be  elected  at  that  time,  for  his  oppo- 
nent's name  was  on  three  tickets,  the  republican,  democratic  and 
independent,  while  his  own  name  appeared  only  in  the  citizens' 
column;  but  he  won  out  by  a  safe  majority  after  one  of  the  most 
stubborn  battles  in  the  history  of  the  ward.  In  the  fulfillment  of 
the  duties  of  his  office,  Mr.  Connor  has  won  a  host  of  friends  by 
his  affable  and  gentlemanly  ways.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  423 

"JOHN  GROETZINGER,  alderman  for 
the  third  ward  of  Pittsburg,  has  long 
been  active  in  Pittsburg  politics.  He 
was  constable  for  Allegheny  county  from 
1885  to  1897,  and  has  been  alderman 
since  then.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  common  council  from  the  third  ward 
in  1890,  was  re-elected  in  1892,  1894  and 
1896,  and  then  resigned  to  undertake  the 
duties  of  his  present  position.  Alderman 
Groetzinger  was  born  in  Pittsburg  in 
1850,  was  educated  there,  but  left  school 
at  an  early  age  to  work  in  a  grocery. 
From  this  he  went  into  a  printing  office,  then  into  a  wagon  shop, 
where  he  learned  the  blacksmiths'  trade.  He  worked  at  this  trade 
until  1870,  then  joined  the  Pittsburg  volunteer  fire  department. 
When  the  pay  fire  department  was  organized  he  became  driver  of 
the  hook  and  ladder  company,  holding  this  position  until  1882, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  captain  of  the  company.  On  April  22, 
1885,  while  a  member  of  the  fire  department,  he  was  caught  in  the 
third  story  of  a  burning  building  which  fell  before  he  could  escape, 
and  received  at  that  time  injuries  which  led  him  to  retire  from  the 
service.  He  was  then  made  constable.  Alderman  Groetzinger  is 
a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  several  other 
organizations,  and  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  church.  He 
was  married,  in  187 1,  to  Sarah  C.  McKain,  daughter  of  Samuel 
McKain.  of  Allegheny,  and  has  two  sons:  Samuel  C.  G.  and 
Thomas  G.  E.  Alderman  Groetzinger  has  been,  for  over  twenty 
years  an  important  factor  in  local  political  movements,  and  the 
various  positions  to  which  he  has  been  elected  give  evidence  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  public. 

JAMES  H.  REED,  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  Pittsburg 
and  a  former  partner  of  Attorney-General  P.  C.  Knox,  was  born 
in  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  Sept.  10,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  A. 
and  Elizabeth  H.  Reed.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  then 
pursued  his  studies  at  the  Western  university,  Pittsburg,  gradu- 
ating  from  that  institution  in  1872.  After  graduation  he  studied 
law  with  his  uncle,  David  Reed,  a  practitioner  of  considerable  dis- 
tinction, was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875,  and  in  1877  formed  with 
P.  C.  Knox  the  partnership  which  lasted  until  1901.  As  a  member 
of  this  firm,  Mr.  Reed  soon  acquired  a  high  reputation,  especially 


424  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

in  the  pleading  of  large  corporation  cases.  In  1891,  when  Judge 
Acbeson  was  appointed  to  Judge  McKennan's  place  on  the  bench  of 
the  circuit  court,  leaving  the  district  bench  vacant,  Judge  Reed  was 
practically  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Pittsburg  bar  for  the  posi- 
tion, and  was  appointed  to  the  place  by  President  Harrison.  His 
health  failing  somewhat,  he  resigned  his  office  on  Jan.  15,  1892, 
and  after  a  period  of  needed  rest,  returned  to  his  old  place  in  the 
firm  of  Knox  &  Reed.  Judge  Reed  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  is 
a  trustee. 

LOUIS  BEINHAUSER  has  been  for 
over  forty  years  a  prominent  funeral 
director  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  born  in 
Hamberg,  Germany,  Feb.  12,  1837,  and 
came  to  America  in  May,  1854.  After 
spending  about  five  months  in  New 
York,  he  went  to  the  coal  region  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  engaged  for 
a  time  as  a  journeyman  cabinet-maker. 
He  came  to  Pittsburg  in  1858,  and  in  i860 
went  into  the  undertaking  business,  in 
which  he  has  been  successfully  engaged 
since  that  time.  Although  he  has  never 
taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  he  holds  in  political  matters  to  the 
tenets  of  the  republican  party.  Mr.  Beinhauser  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Lutheran.  He  is  a  man  whose  life  has  been  one  of  long  and  use- 
ful service,  unstained  by  corruption,  and  he  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  a  host  of  friends.  Mr.  Beinhauser  was  married,  in  1858,  and 
has  three  children:  Conrad  F.,  Anna  and  Lulu. 

WILLIAM  LANG,  a  member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  that  city,  where  he  was  born  in 
February,  1852.  As  a  boy  he  lived  with  his  parents,  John  H.  and 
Caroline  Lang,  in  the  fourth  ward,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools.  After  leaving  the  old  fourth  ward  school,  he  took  a  course 
at  the  Iron  City  commercial  college,  and  for  about  a  year  worked 
with  his  father  at  the  trade  of  tinsmith.  He  then  learned  the  trade 
of  iron-molder  and  went  west,  stopping  first  at  Chicago.  Not 
liking  it  there,',he  went  to'Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where 'for  four,:  years 
he  was  in  the  foundry  of  E.  B.  Ellis.     He 'returned  to  Allegheny 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  425 

city,  and  in  1886  was  appointed  letter-carrier.  His  next  position 
was  that  of  market  constable  at  the  city  market,  where  he 
remained  for  ten  years,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  city  officials 
and  the  patrons  of  the  market.  At  the  expiration  of  his  ten  years 
of  service  as  market  constable  he  was  elected  alderman  on  the 
republican  ticket,  having  always  affiliated  with  that  party  and 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  operations  as  a  political  organization. 
His  offices  are  at  No.  406  Ohio  St.  In  1881  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma  Schatzman,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  one  son  has  been  born  to 
the  union.  Mr.  Lang  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Alle- 
gheny lodge,  No.  339,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  still  holds  his  member- 
ship in  the  lodge  he  helped  to  organize.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Providence  Presbyterian  church. 

NICHOLAS  G.  KLAUS,  councilman 
for  the  borough  of  East  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Baldwin  township,  Allegheny 
county,  Nov.  7,  1867.  His  parents,  John 
and  Mary  Klaus,  were  born  in  Germany 
and  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Nicholas  Klaus  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  worked  for  a  time  as  a  coal- 
miner  in  the  Turtle  creek  valley,  but  has 
been  for  the  past  fifteen  years  successfully 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  East 
Pittsburg.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat, 
prominent   in  local  party  affairs  and  has 

been  councilman  for  about  a  year.    Mr.  Klaus  was  married  July  21, 

1889,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Helen  (McDonald)  Cusac. 

The  Cusacs  are  a  prominent  old  family  of  Pittsburg.    Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Klaus  have  had  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  viz.  :  Helen, 

Clarence,  Harry,  Mildred,  William  and  Gertrude. 

JAMES  G.  HARPER,  alderman  of  the  fifteenth  ward  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  Oct.  11,  1855,  and  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  C.  Harper,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
1902.  James  obtained  his  primary  education  in  the  public  school 
of  the  sixth  ward.  He  then  took  a  classical  course  in  a  private 
institution  and  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wagons  and  carriages,  continuing  in  that  business  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  Upon  leaving  the  wagon-works, 
he  was  for  two  years  associated  with  Painter  &  Sons  as  a  mill- 


426  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Wright  in  the  rolling  mills,  but  left  this  position  to  become  an 
engineer  for  Oliver  Bros.  After  two  years  with  this  firm,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Trimble  Bros.,  in  a  planing  mill,  and  while 
in  the  mill  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  an  arm  in  the  machinery. 
This  accident  compelled  him  to  seek  some  other  line  of  employ- 
ment, and  for  nine  years  he  was  in  the  county  court-house  in  vari- 
ous clerical  positions.  He  was  next  for  four  years  in  the  United 
States  internal  revenue  service  under  Collectors  S.  D.  Wormcastle 
and  George  A.  Miller.  On  the  last  day  of  April,  1900,  he  was 
appointed  alderman,  and  after  serving  one  year  on  this  appoint- 
ment he  was  elected  for  a  term  of  five  years.  Mr.  Harper  was 
married,  in  1S80,  to  Miss  Jane  McCoubrie,  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa., 
and  three  children — Bessie,  Martin  and  Jean — have  been  born  to 
them.  He  is  an  unswerving  republican,  and  his  face  is  a  familiar 
one  at  the  meetings  of  that  party,  especially  in  the  fifteenth  ward, 
where  he  resides.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  United  Presby- 
terian church. 

JOHN    I.    WALLACE,    of    Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  for  many   years  a  highly  successful 
farmer    of    Allegheny    county,    but    now 
retired  from  active  life,  was  born  in  Bald- 
win township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  8, 
1845,  his  birthplace  being  the  old  family 
homestead  of  his    grandfather  and    now 
owned  by  the  subject  of  this  review.      His 
paternal  grandparents  were  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Barton)  Wallace,  natives  of  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  and  of  the  same  general 
family  as  Sir  William  Wallace,  the  Scot- 
tish hero.     James  Wallace,  their  son  and 
the  father  of  John  L  Wallace,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Baldwin   township,  Jan.    i,  1806,  and  spent  his  entire  life   on   the 
farm  where  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day,  enjoying  excellent  health 
and  a  halcyon  existence  until  his  death,  Sept.  14,  1894,  at  the  ripe 
old   age   of  eighty-eight  years.     James   Wallace  was   married,  on 
Sept.  15,  1838,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Irwin,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  state,  who  had  many  thrilling  experiences  with  the 
Indians  while    blazing  the  way  for   civilization,  on    two  occasions 
being    compelled    to    abandon   his   settlement   and   retreat   to    the 
sheltering  walls   of  the    towns  of   the  coast  region.     Jane  (Irwin) 
Wallace  was  born  on  Aug.  29,  1810,  and  lived  to  be  almost  eighty- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  427 

eight  years  of  age,  her  death  occurring  on  April  19,  189S.  She 
was  the  mother  of  three  children,  viz. :  Samuel,  John  I.  and 
Elizabeth.  John  I.  Wallace  devoted  his  entire  business  career  to 
conducting  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born,  and  by  dint  of  energy 
and  faithful  adherence  to  duty,  succeeded  in  increasing  the  old 
homestead  by  a  considerable  number  of  acres,  and  amply  demon- 
strated that  he  was  a  thorough  and  conservative  bitsiness  man. 
Early  in  life  he  formed  those  fine  habits  and  traits  which  composed 
his  splendid  character  and  which  made  him  honored  and  esteemed 
by  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  The  operation  of  the  golden 
rule  was  manifested  in  his  daily  life,  while  the  beatitudes  of  the 
serm.on  on  the  mount  were  constantly  exemplified  by  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow-men,  and  his  whole  life  has  indeed  been  a  beautiful 
one.  Mr.  Wallace  continued  to  live  on  his  farm  until  a  few  years 
ago,  when  he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  and  has  since  resided  in  that 
city.  His  chief  object  in  making  this  change  was  to  give  his  chil- 
dren the  advantages  of  the  superior  school  facilities  for  which  the 
metropolis  of  western  Pennsylvania  is  justly  famous.  He  was  mar- 
ried, on  Oct.  5,  1869,  to  Jane  Mary  Rath,  a  most  excellent  woman, 
who  was  born  on  Sept.  11,  1852,  and  after  a  happy  married  life  of 
above  twenty-seven  years,  died  on  Jan.  27,  1897,  leaving  the  fol- 
lowing children,  viz.:  James  Harvey,  Lillie  Bell,  jSIelvin  E.,  John 
Duff,  Rachel  Agnes  and  Ethel  jSIarie.  Mr.  Wallace  is  now  living 
quietly  at  his  city  residence  and  is  reaping  the  benefits  and  rewards 
that  come  to  those  who  live  correct  and  worthy  lives,  and  who  do 
their  full  duty  to  themselves  and  their  fellow-men. 

HENRY  LOHREY,  a  well-known  pork-packer  and  member  of 
the  school  board  of  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  progressive  business  men  of  the  city.  He  was  born  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  in  1855,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Later 
the  family  removed  to  a  farm  near  the  city,  where  his  father,  Henry 
Lohrey,  died  in  1873.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  continued  to 
manage  the  farm  for  his  mother  until  he  was  about  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  when  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  and  was  employed  by  his 
brother  as  city  salesman  in  the  meat  business.  During  the  nine 
years  that  he  was  thus  employed  he  learned  the  packing  business 
in  all  its  details,  and  in  1887  went  into  that  occupation  for  himself, 
selecting  Allegheny  city  as  a  location.  Mr.  Lohrey  was  the  first 
to  introduce  boiled  hams  as  an  article  of  commerce  in  Allegheny 
city.  For  about  three  years  he  made  a  specialty  of  this  line  of 
meats,  which  became  so  popular  that  other  dealers  took  it  up,  and 


428  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

he  was  forced  to  carry  on  a  general  meat-packing  trade  to  protect 
himself.  He  established  his  packing-house  at  No.  2234  East  St., 
and  soon  had  a  capacity  of  250  hogs  weekly,  and  could  now,  with 
his  present  capacity,  handle  1,000  per  week.  Since  that  time  he 
has  held  his  own  against  all  his  competitors,  and  to-day  enjoys  a 
patronage  second  to  none  in  the  city.  He  was  married,  in  1881,  to 
Miss  Barbara  Fichter,  of  Cincinnati,  and  to  them  five  children 
have  been  born,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Charles  H. ,  Joseph  E. 
and  Walter  G.  Mr.  Lohrey  takes  a  wide-awake  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  local  government,  as  well  as  general  politics, 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  republicans  in  the  tenth  ward, 
where  he  resides.  For  the  last  eight  years  he  has  represented  his 
ward  on  the  school  board,  where  he  has  fully  demonstrated  that  he 
is  the  right  man  for  such  a  position.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  Allegheny  city. 

ISAAC  A.  LEVY,  who  was  elected  in 
February,  1902,  for  a  five-year  term  to 
succeed  John  Cahill  as  alderman  from 
the  eighth  ward,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
Russia  in  1863.  He  came  to  Pittsburg  in 
1874  with  his  mother,  the  father  having 
come  over  about  nine  months  before.  In 
Pittsburg  Mr.  Levy  worked  for  a  time  at 
various  occupations,  and  then  went  to 
Leetonia,  Ohio,  where  he  acted  for  three 
years  as  bookkeeper  and  clerk  for  Julius 
Skiroll.  Returning  to  Pittsburg,  he  was 
employed  for  a  time  as  traveling  salesman 
for  the  wholesale  dry  goods  firm  of  H.  Oppenheim,  and  later 
served  in  the  same  capacity  for  the  now  extinct  firm  of  Rosenthal, 
Aronson  &  Co.  In  1890  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel 
Gusky  in  the  wholesale  notion  business,  under  the  name  of  Gusky 
&  Levy,  Mr.  Levy  representing  the  firm  on  the  road.  Giving  up 
this  business  in  1892,  he  opened  a  commission  house,  engaged  in 
this  business  until  1896,  and  then  was  for  three  years  employed  in 
the  office  of  Sheriff  Harvey  Lowry.  After  this  he  went  into  the 
life  insurance  business,  and  was  thus  engaged  when  elected  to  his 
present  position.  Mr.  Levy  is  a  prominent  member  of  various 
secret  orders.  He  is  a  member  of  Montefiore  lodge.  No.  794,  and 
Encampment  No.  307,  I.  O.  O.  F.      He  represented  his  lodge  for 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  429 

ten  years,  was  nine  years  its  secretary,  and  served  a  year,  begin- 
ning March,  1899,  as  deputy  grand  master  of  Pittsburg.  He  has 
been  no  less  prominent  in  the  encampment,  and  represented  his 
encampment  for  several  years  in  the  grand  encampment.  Mr. 
Levy  organized  Benner  lodge.  No.  399,  Knights  of  Pythias;  was 
elected  past  chancellor  of  the  organization,  and  represented  the 
chapter  in  the  grand  lodge  for  several  years.  He  also  served  three 
years  as  grand  trustee  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  man  outside  of  Philadel- 
phia ever  elected  to  this  position.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the 
White  Star  company.  No.  16,  uniform  rank.  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
is  its  present  captain.  In  politics  Mr.  Levy  is  an  ardent  and  hard- 
working republican,  and  is  the  present  chairman  of  his  ward. 

JOSEPH  MITCHELL,  Jr. ,  alderman  of  the  seventeenth  ward  of 
the  city  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  in  1841. 
His  father,  also  named  Joseph,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and 
in  1846  both  father  and  son  came  to  America,  landing  in  New  York 
in  March  of  that  year.  The  family  came  directly  to  Pittsburg, 
settled  in  the  ninth  ward,  where  they  lived  for  about  eighteen 
years,  and  then  moved  to  the  twelfth  ward,  Joseph,  Jr.,  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  ninth  ward,  and  afterwards  took  a  course 
in  bookkeeping  at  Duff's  business  college.  His  first  position  was 
with  W.  H.  McClurg,  a  grocer,  whose  place  of  business  was  at  the 
corner  of  Sixth  and  Wood  streets.  He  remained  with  Mr.  McClurg 
about  one  and  a  half  years,  when  he  became  bookkeeper  for 
W.  &  P.  Siebert,  grocers,  on  the  corner  of  Penn  and  Market 
streets.  After  three  years  with  this  firm  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Gillespie  &  Mitchell  as  bookkeeper  for  their  planing  mill  and  lum- 
ber yard,  and  in  1861  entered  the  retail  grocery  line  for  himself, 
locating  in  the  seventeenth  ward,  where  he  was  in  business  for 
about  five  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  seven- 
teenth ward  and  served  for  four  years.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  and  was  re-elected  in  1878,  serving 
four  years  in  all.  He  was  then  appointed  state  tax  collector  by  the 
Allegheny  county  commissioners  and  served  five  years  in  that 
capacity.  Since  1883  Mr.  Mitchell  has  been  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  and,  as  stated  in  the  beginning,  he  is  at  the  present 
time  alderman  for  the  seventeenth  ward,  having  his  offices  at  the 
corner  of  Forty- second  and  Butler  streets.  Mr.  Mitchell  has 
traveled  extensively  through  the  central  and  western  states,  and 
in  1863  he  returned  to  Ireland,  visiting  the  old  farm  near  Belfast 


430  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

where  he  was  born.  He  is  a  member  of  Excelsior  lodge,  No.  36, 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen;  Sheaf  lodge,  No.  732,  Knights 
of  Honor,  and  is  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  Syria  temple,  Ancient  and 
Accepted  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  church,  located  on  Forty-fourth 
street,  Pittsburg.  In  1865  he  was  married  to  Miss  Adelaide  V. 
McKee,  and  to  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  five  children: 
H.  W.,  a  lawyer  in  Pittsburg;  D.  E.,  a  clerk  in  Heyl  &  Patterson's 
machine  shops;  J.  C,  a  roll  turner:  Frank,  a  clerk,  and  B.  C,  clerk 
in  a  bank.  All  the  boys  have  been  properly  reared  and  educated, 
and,  like  their  father,  they  are  all  leading  lives  of  activity  and 
usefulness. 

JOHN  BATTLES,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  highways  and  sewers,  Pitts- 
burg, was  born  in  Mount  Savage,  Alle- 
gany Co.,  Md.,  in  1853.  He  came  to 
Pittsburg  with  his  parents  in  i860,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  When  sixteen  years  old, 
he  left  school  and  went  to  work  in  a  glass 
factory.  Later  he  was  employed  in  a 
rolling  mill,  and  continued  in  the  mill  for 
many  years,  leaving  it  for  good  in  1892, 
after  attaining  the  position  of  roller. 
Mr.  Battles  became  in  that  year  assistant 
superintendent  of  highways  and  sewers,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
tmtil  July,  1900,  when  he  was  given  the  deserved  appointment  as 
superintendent  of  the  bureau.  On  June  30,  1901,  he  was  thrown 
out  of  office  by  the  provisions  of  the  Ripper  bill,  but  was  reap- 
pointed on  December  ist  of  that  year  by  Recorder  J.  O.  Brown. 

CHARLES  P.  BERNHARD,  member  of  the  common  council 
from  the  third  ward  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  was  born  in  that  ward 
in  i860,  and  received  his  first  education  in  the  public  schools  there, 
completing  the  course  of  study  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  took  a  complete  course  in  the  Iron  City  business  college,  and 
ever  since  leaving  school  has  been  associated  with  his  father,  John 
Bernhard,  in  the  furniture  business  at  No.  114  East  Ohio  St.,  Alle- 
gheny city.  His  mother,  Margaret  Bernhard,  died  in  1902. 
Charles  Bernhard  is  a  member  of  several  fraternal  and  benevolent 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  431 

societies,  belonging  to  Darling  council,  No.  888,  Royal  Arcanum; 
Twin  City  council,  No.  121,  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics;  North  Side  council,  No.  8,  Sovereigns  of  Industry,  and 
Allegheny  lodge.  No.  339,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks"  For  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Alle- 
o-heny  city  gymnastic  club,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Allegheny 
Jacksonian  club.  In  political  matters,  locally  at  least,  he  is  some- 
what independent,  frequently  acting  without  regard  to  party  affilia- 
tions. This  independence  does  not  appear  to  have  injured  his 
political  influence,  however,  for  in  February,  1903,  he  was  elected 
to  represent  his  ward  in  the  council.  On  all  matters  relating  to 
national  politics  he  acts  with  the  republican  party.  As  a  member 
of  the  council  be  was  appointed  on  the  finance  and  charity  com- 
mittees, both  of  which  are  committees  of  considerable  importance. 
In  1890  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Musgrave,  of  Allegheny 
city.  To  this  marriage  two  children  have  been  born:  Elmer  and 
Edward  G.  Bernhard,  both  bright  boys,  and  the  joy  and  pride  of 
their  parents. 

JAMES  P.  MURPHY,  assistant  smoke 
inspector  of  Pittsburg,  is  a  native  of  that 
city.  He  was  born  in  1869,  and  attended 
the  common  schools  and  night  school 
until  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  gave 
up  his  studies  to  accept  a  position  in  a 
rolling  mill,  where  he  remained  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  became  assistant  roller. 
He  left  the  employ  of  the  company  in  a 
strike  in  1897  and  never  returned  to 
work.  In  August,  1898,  Recorder  E.  M. 
Bigelow  appointed  Mr.  Murphy  to  the 
office  which  he  now  holds.  He  was  dis- 
charged, Aug.  10,  1 901,  by  the  provisions  of  the  famous  Ripper 
bill,  and  was  reappointed  in  December,  1901,  by  Dr.  J.  Guy 
McCandless,  director  of  the  department  of  public  works.  He  was 
employed  from  September  ist  until  the  time  of  his  reappointment, 
in  the  county  commissioner's  office,  as  inspector  of  county  roads. 
Mr.  Murphy  is  one  of  the  prominent  young  men  of  Pittsburg,  well 
and  favorably  known  in  the  city,  and  is  a  man  of  whom  much  may 
be  expected.  He  is  chairman  of  the  republican  committee  of  the 
thirty-fifth  ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church,  belongs 
to  the  Americus  club,  and  is  president  of  the  Oneida  social  club. 


432  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

PHILIP  DEMMEL,  superintendent  of  detectives,  of  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1844.  In  1856  he  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  locating  at  Coal  Hill  (now  Mount  Washington),  thirty- 
second  ward,  Pittsburg,  and  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
public  schools.  At  an  early  age  he  went  to  work  in  a  glass  fac- 
tory, and  when  thirteen  years  old  started  to  learn  the  lithographic 
printing  trade  in  Pittsburg,  and  continued  at  this  work  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Although  only  seventeen  years  old, 
Mr.  Demmel  enlisted  to  fight  for  his  country,  and  served  with  dis- 
tinction throughout  the  war.  His  record  during  these  troubled 
times  is  a  most  interesting  one,  and  one  of  which  any  soldier  might 
well  be  proud.  He  enlisted  on  July  10,  1861,  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany L,  62d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  for  a  three-year  term 
of  service.  Six  months  before  the  expiration  of  this  term  he 
re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
transferred  at  the  end  of  his  first  term  to  Company  K,  91st  Penn- 
sylvania volunteer  infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Camp 
Cadwallader,  at  Philadelphia,  in  August,  1865,  after  having  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C.  During  the 
war  he  fought  in  the  following  engagements:  Siege  of  Yorktown, 
second  Bull  Run,  second  Cold  Harbor,  Gaines'  Mill,  Malvern  Hill, 
Frayser's  farm,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Willow  farm,  North  and  South 
Anna  river,  siege  of  Petersburg,  the  Wilderness,  and  in  all  the 
fights  in  which  his  regiment  took  part.  Mr.  Demmel  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  Wilderness  and  on  several  other  occasions,  and  was 
wounded  at  Gettysburg.  He  spent  about  six  weeks  in  the  hospital 
at  Germantown,  but  was  in  active  service  during  almost  all  of  his 
long  period  as  a  soldier.  Returning  to  Pittsburg  after  the  war,  he 
worked  at  lithographic  printing  until  1868.  At  that  time  he  was 
elected  high  constable  of  the  borough  of  Birmingham  and  served 
as  such  until  1872,  when  the  borough  was  made  a  part  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  Mr.  Demmel  was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  police 
force  and  made  lieutenant  of  police.  Soon  afterwards  he  resigned 
and  was  made  market  constable,  serving  in  this  capacity  two  years, 
and  was  then,  in  1875,  appointed  detective  by  Mayor  William  C. 
McCarthy.  In  1877  Mr.  Demmel  was  made  chief  of  police  and 
served  one  year,  and  then  returned  to  the  detective  force.  In 
June,  1879,  he  resigned  his  position  and  became  a  private  detective 
in  the  employ  of  Jones  &  Laughlin  (American  iron  works),  and 
served  this  firm  for  ten  years.  Returning  to  the  detective  force, 
he  served  on  the  Pittsburg  force  until  September,  1901,  when  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  433 

was  appointed  inspector  of  police.  After  two  weeks  as  inspector, 
Mr.  Demmel  was  appointed  to  the  two-fold  position  of  superintend- 
ent of  police  and  chief  of  detectives,  and  in  January,  1902,  he 
received  his  present  position.  Mr.  Demmel's  long  service  for  the 
city  has  been  a  most  creditable  one,  and  he  is  a  man  in  every  way 
fitted  for  his  present  responsible  office. 

ROBERT  H.  LINDSAY,  general 
ordinance  officer,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in 
the  first  ward,  Pittsburg,  June  11,  1851. 
He  attended  the  Pittsburg  public  schools, 
graduating  from  the  Pittsburg  high 
school  in  1869,  and  then  supplemented 
his  education  by  two  years  of  study  at 
the  Western  university.  He  then  entered 
the  public  service  as  clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  county  commissioners,  remaining  in 
this  position  until  1876.  In  1877  he  be- 
came clerk  in  the  city  assessor's  office, 
and  continued  to  serve  in  this  capacity 
until  1897,  when  his  present  office  was  created.  Mr.  Lindsay  was 
first  appointed  to  fill  this  office,  for  which  his  long  experience  had 
fitted  him,  by  Mayor  H.  P.  Ford,  and  was  afterwards  reappointed 
by  Mayor  William  J.  Diehl,  and  Recorders  A.  M.  Brown  and  J.  O, 
Brown.  Mr.  Lindsay  is  a  member  of  the  Heptasophs  and  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.     In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

WILLIAM  T.  MARSHALL,  attorney  in  Pittsburg,  was  born 
in  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  in  1858.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  afterwards  attended  the 
Western  university  at  Pittsburg.  Leaving  school  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  was  employed  for  a  time  in  his  brother's  grocery  in 
Allegheny  city,  and  then  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  T.  M. 
Boyne.  In  1881  he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  customs  at 
Pittsburg,  serving  in  this  capacity  until  1885,  when  he  became  con- 
nected with  the  People's  gas  company,  with  which  company  he  is 
still  actively  identified.  Mr.  Marshall  has  long  been  prominent  in 
state  politics  and  has  always  been  an  ardent  republican.  In  1887 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  republican  state  convention.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  house  of  representatives  from  1889  to 
1901,  and  served  as  speaker  of  the  house  in  1901.  His  public 
career  has  been  an  honorable  one,  stained  by  no  hint  of  political 

1-28 


434 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


corruption.  Says  a  friend  in  speaking  of  Mr.  Marshall:  "He  was 
one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  legisla- 
ture. He  was  for  some  time  chairman  of  the  appropriations  com- 
mittee, and  thus  secured  large  sums  for  Allegheny  county 
institutions,  and  he  has  never  had  a  thing  brought  up  against  his 
character,  either  in  public  or  private  life."  Mr.  Marshall  belongs 
to  no  secret  order.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


FRANK  C.  PEARSON,  chief  clerk  to 
the  director  of  the  department  of  chari- 
ties and  corrections  of  Pittsburg,  was  born 
in  the  seventeenth  ward  of  that  city  in 
187 1.  His  parents  moved  to  Homewood, 
Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1879,  and  Mr.  Pear- 
son attended  the  public  schools  there 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen, 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Ingram, 
Allegheny  county,  and  he  completed  his 
education  in  Pittsburg,  graduating  from 
Duff's  business  college  in  1889.  He  then 
became  chief  clerk  to  the  superintendent 
of  the  city  farm,  which  was  at  that  time  located  at  Homestead,  and 
in  1892  was  transferred  to  the  city  office  of  the  department  of 
charities  and  corrections.  He  spent  seven  years  as  cashier  of  that 
department,  and  then  became  chief  clerk  to  the  director  of  the 
department,  Mr.  Pearson  is  a  director  of  the  Cash  building  and 
loan  association  of  Pittsburg.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Mason,  has 
attained  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  Shriner.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Pearson  is  a 
republican,- and  takes  an  active  and  important  part  in  party  affairs. 


HUMPHREY  LYNCH,  alderman  of  the  ninth  ward  of  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  County  Cork,  Ireland, 
in  1844.  His  parents  were  Michael  and  Johanna  Lynch,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  Humphrey  was  educated  at  the  Christian 
Brothers'  school  at  Cork,  after  which  he  learned  the  shoemakers' 
trade  and  vvorked  at  it  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  the  ninth  ward  of  Allegheny 
city,  though  for  about  five  years  after  coming  to  this  country  he 
operated  a  shoe  store  in  Pittsburg.  In  1885  he  opened  a  shoe  store 
in  Allegheny  city,  on  Preble  avenue,  and  conducted  it  until  1897. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  435 

He  was  elected  school  director  in  1895  for  a  term  of  three  years, 
and  in  1897  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  ninth  ward,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds,  his  office  being  located  at  No.  654  Preble  Ave. 
Before  leaving  his  native  land  he  was  married,  in  1874,  to  Miss 
Nora  Crowley,  of  Cork,  and  the  following  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  Michael,  Joseph,  Murray,  Nora,  Jeremiah,  James  and 
Margaret.  Mr.  Lynch  is  a  sterling  democrat,  and  he  is  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  that  party  in  the  ninth  ward.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  and  constant  attendants  at  St.  Andrew's 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

€  GEORGE    W.    WILSON,    director   of 

^^  the  department  of  charities   and  correc- 

^^^  tions  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg 
1^^^  in  1846,  and  was  reared  there,  attending 
*f^^^  first  the  public  schools  and  then  the 
^^^1  Western  university,  from  which  he  gradu- 
^^^H  ated.  Upon  graduation  he  became  a 
^^^m  clerk  in  the  wholesale  grocery  of  his 
^^V  father,  John  Wilson,  and  in  1869  was 
^^^  made  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  was 
^m  thenceforth    known    as    John    Wilson    & 

r  Son.     John  Wilson  died  in  1895,  and  the 

son  sold  out  the  business  and  spent  three 
years  in  closing  up  the  estate.  Mr.  Wilson  has  been  long  before 
the  public  eye  and  has  held  many  public  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  In  April,  1898,  he  was  appointed  assistant  post- 
master of  Pittsburg,  served  in  this  capacity  until  Feb.  i,  1900, 
when  he  was  elected  director  of  the  department  of  public  charities. 
This  place  he  resigned  in  June,  1900,  was  for  a  year  director  of  the 
department  of  public  works,  resigning  June  11,  1901,  and  on 
Nov.  26,  1901,  was  appointed  to  his  present  responsible  position  by 
Hon.  J.  O.  Brown.  Besides  these  offices,  Mr.  Wilson  was  fire 
commissioner  of  Pittsburg  from  1868  to  1877,  member  of  the  com- 
mon council  from  the  twenty-second  ward  from  1888  to  1898,  and 
for  three  years  chairman  of  the  committee  of  public  works.  He 
was  also  formerly  for  eight  years  school  director,  being  a  member 
of  the  central  board  of  education.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  a  Shriner  and  Knight  Templar,  and  belongs  to  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  holds  the  honorary 
position  of  trustee. 


436  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  R.  BROWNE,  superintendent  of  surveys,  Pitts- 
burg, has  been  for  many  years  a  prominent  engineer.  A  native  of 
Greensburg,  Pa.,  he  has  lived  almost  all  his  life  in  Pittsburg,  where 
he  attended  school  and  received  a  good  education.  He  began  to 
study  engineering  in  his  youth  and  has  followed  this  vocation  ever 
since.  Mr.  Browne  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  in  1882, 
and  has  fulfilled  the  duties  of  that  office  satisfactorily  for  over 
twenty  years.      In  religious  belief  he  is  a  United  Presbyterian. 

WILLIAM  W.  MURRAY,  county 
commissioner  of  Allegheny  county,  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Washington  county. 
Pa.,  Oct.  14,  1856.  His  parents  moved 
to  Allegheny  county  the  following  year, 
and  there  Mr.  Murray  was  reared  and 
received  his  education.  In  1882  he  came 
to  Pittsburg  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
county  commissioner,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  for  fifteen  years.  In  April, 
1897,  he  was  elected  superintendent  of 
the  county  poor  farm,  but  served  only 
three  weeks,  being  then  appointed  county 
commissioner  to  fill  a  vacancy.  In  1899  he  was  elected  to  the  same 
office  for  a  three-year  term.  Besides  holding  these  positions,  Mr. 
Murray  was  for  twelve  years  a  member  of  the  Knoxville,  Pa., 
council,  and  served  one  year  as  burgess,  resigning  at  the  end  of 
that  time.  He  also  served  three  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
Mr.  Murray  has  business  as  well  as  political  interests,  being  a 
director  of  the  Chartiers  Valley  water  company  and  the  Bridgeville 
lumber  and  supply  company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Heptasophs  and  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  In 
religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

JOHN  A.  MARTIN,  alderman  from  the  sixth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  Pittsburg  in  1870.  His  father,  John  Martin,  was  born 
in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  died  in  Pittsburg  in  1899,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-eight.  John  A.  Martin  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Pittsburg,  graduating  from  Duff's  business  college  in  1887.  He 
also  studied  law  for  a  little  over  a  year  in  the  office  of  Blakeley, 
McElroy  &  Smith.  Mr.  Martin  was  for  three  years  assistant 
agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  company,  at  Homestead,  and, 
returning    to   the   sixth  ward,  he  opened  a  small  cigar  and  confec- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  437 

tionery  store.  This  store  he  kept  for  about  a  year  and  a  half  and 
has  since  that  time  devoted  his  attention  entirely  to  politics.  In 
1896  he  was  candidate  for  councilman  on  the  democratic  ticket  and 
was  defeated  by  only  seventeen  votes.  The  following  year  he  was 
again  a  candidate  for  the  same  office,  and  was  this  time  elected 
with  a  plurality  of  236.  His  first  five-year  term  over,  Mr.  Martin 
became  a  candidate  for  re-election,  and  in  February,  1902, 
received  a  handsome  plurality  of  over  600  as  a  testimonial  to  his 
faithful  services  in  the  past.  Mr.  Martin  belongs  to  the  Hepta- 
sophs  and  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

GEORGE  M.  FOSTER,  cashier  in  the 
office  of  the  treasurer  of  Allegheny 
county,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Scott 
township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  in  Febru- 
ary,  1854.  He  attended  the  schools  of 
Scott  township  and  the  Dickson-Dunbar 
academy  in  Carnegie,  and  upon  leaving 
school,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  learned  the 
carpenters'  trade  and  was  a  contracting 
carpenter  until  1884.  He  then  accepted 
a  clerkship  under  David  McGunnegle,  at 
that  time  clerk  of  courts,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  entered  the 
treasurer's  office,  where  he  rose  to  the  position  of  cashier,  an  office 
which  he  has  held  eight  years.  That  Mr.  Foster  has  for  twelve 
years  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  his  township  is  evi- 
dence of  his  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Foster  was  married,  in  1883,  to  Lizzie  J. 
Collins,  daughter  of  Samuel  Collins  (deceased),  and  to  them  have 
been  born  five  children,  as  follows:  Jean  Ross,  Bessie  Collins, 
Louise  Glenn,  Harriet  Bilmore  and  Matilda  Georgia. 

E.  N.  RANDOLPH,  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  controller 
of  Allegheny  county,  was  born  in  Versailles  township,  Allegheny 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  1856,  and  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  where  he  received  a  common  education.  He 
came  to  Pittsburg  in  1868  and  quit  school  the  following  year.  He 
was  first  employed  as  an  errand  boy,  and  then  became  a  florist,  in 
which  capacity  his  diligence  and  native  ability  won  him  the  confi- 


438  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

dence  of  his  employers,  so  that  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  became 
superintendent  of  one  of  the  largest  commercial  florist  concerns  in 
Pittsburg.  He  continued  at  this  vocation  until  1885,  when  he 
became  one  of  the  force  in  the  controller's  office,  and  now  holds 
the  position  of  chief  clerk.  Mr.  Randolph  has  for  years  taken  an 
active  part  in  republican  politics  and  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  political  campaigns  of  his  party.  In  1 89 1  he  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  republican  state  league  clubs,  and  four  times 
re-elected  to  the  same  position.  He  was  also  at  one  time  secretary 
of  the  Allegheny  county  republican  committee,  and  was  in  1895-96 
journal  clerk  of  the  Pennsylvania  house  of  representatives.  He 
was  also  formerly  for  two  years  president  of  the  Pittsburg 
athletic  club,  at  that  time  an  important  organization.  Mr, 
Randolph  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  in  religion  affiliates  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 


^ 


JAMES    D.   GALLERY,  president   of 
'■  -^^t  ^^^®  Pittsburg  railway  company,  is  widely 

''"■■-  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  busi- 


ness men  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  born  in  Pittsburg  in  1857,  and  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  Pitts- 
burg schools,  afterwards  attending  Notre 
Dame  college,  near  South  Bend,  Ind., 
from  which  noted  institution  he  graduated 
in  1874.  School  days  being  over,  he  at 
once  entered  upon  his  business  career, 
working  for  his  father,  a  large  leather 
dealer.  Mr.  Gallery  has  always  been  in- 
terested in  this  firm,  which  was  incorporated  in  1900  as  the  James 
Gallery  company.  The  elder  Mr.  Gallery  was  also  president  of  the 
Pittsburg  &  Western  railroad  company,  whose  line  is  now  owned 
by  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio.  He  died  in  1889.  James  D.  Gallery, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  became  president  of  the  Second  Avenue 
railway  of  Pittsburg  in  1888.  This  line,  at  that"  time  a  horse-car 
line,  was  afterwards  merged  into  the  United  Traction  company,  of 
which  Mr.  Gallery  became  president  in  1896.  In  January,  1902, 
the  Pittsburg  railway  company  was  organized,  taking  in  the  United 
Traction  company  and  also  the  street  railway  lines  in  Allegheny 
county,  except  the  Pittsburg  and  Gonnellsville  line,  which  termi- 
nated at  McKeesport.  Mr.  Gallery  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Gatholic  church  and  a  republican  in  politics. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  439 

WILLIAM  D.  KING,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  that  city,  Sept.  9,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of 
Calvin  and  Rachel  (Chambers)  King.  Dr.  Calvin  King  has  been 
for  over  half  a  century  a  prominent  Pittsburg  dentist.  Dr. 
William  D.  King's  family  came  originally  from  England.  His 
great-grandfather,  Courtland  King,  crossed  the  Monongahela  river 
at  Elizabeth,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Library,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  Among 
his  children  were:  John,  grandfather,  of  William  D.  ;  Elijah,  who 
resided  at  Indianapolis,  and  Isaac,  who  made  his  home  at  Library. 
John  King  came  to  Library  in  infancy,  and  resided  with  his  parents 
until  he  became  twenty-eight  years  old,  married  Jane  Stewart  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead.  In  1836  he  moved  to 
Forward,  where  he  purchased  the  farm  of  John  Stoner,  lived  there 
until  1873,  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Central  block.  His 
life  of  ninety-two  years  was  one  of  constant  usefulness.  In 
religion  he  was  a  rigid  Baptist,  although  cherishing  at  the  same 
time  a  broad  Christian  charity,  while  in  politics  he  was  a  whig,  and 
afterwards  an  abolitionist.  He  was  a  man  of  wide  culture,  a  reader 
and  a  thinker.  John  King  was  the  father  of  the  following  children : 
Dr.  James  L.,  of  Pittsburg;  Mary  L.,  who  died  in  1877;  Dr. 
William  H.,  of  Monongahela;  John,  of  Spring  Valley,  Minn.  ;  Dr. 
Courtland,  of  Pittsburg;  Jane,  wife  of  James  Morn,  who  died  in 
1854;  Dr.  Calvin,  of  Pittsburg;  Samuel  J.,  of  Forward  township; 
Robert;  Harvey,  an  infant  child;  Dr.  Milton  S.,  of  Pittsburg,  and 
Allie  M.,  now  Mrs.  Devore.  Dr.  William  H.  King,  third  child  of 
John  and  Jane  King,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  April  17, 
1823;  graduated  from  Ohio  college  of  dentistry,  and  practiced  for 
some  years  in  Lancaster,  Ohio.  On  Aug.  22,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  155th  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt. 
John  Markell;  was  twice  promoted  for  bravery  in  the  service,  and 
was  mustered  out  as  first  lieutenant.  He  was  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  in  religious  belief  a  Baptist.  He  was  married.  May  4, 
187 1,  to  Jane  Carpenter.  Dr.  William  D.  King,  subject  of  this 
article,  graduated  from  Hahnemann  medical  college,  Philadelphia, 
in  1884,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Pittsburg  since  then.  Here  his  native  ability,  coupled  with  a 
studious  disposition  and  faithful  attention  to  his  practice,  has  won 
him  distinction  as  a  homoeopathic  physician.  There  is  possibly  no 
physician  in  Allegheny  county  who  has  the  distinction  of  having  so 
large  a  general  practice  as  Dr.  King.  He  is  obstetrician  of  the  city 
hospital  and  chief  of  the  dispensary  staff,  is  a  member  of  the  State 


440  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

homoeopathic  society  and  of  the  American  institute  of  homoeopathy. 
He  is  a  Baptist  in  religion,  and  in  politics  a  republican.  Dr.  King 
was  married,  in  1S91,  to  Nancy  Tripp,  daughter  of  Col.  Alonzo 
Tripp,  superintendent  of  a  South  Carolina  railroad. 

©WILLIAM  ROBINSON,  alderman 
from  the  thirty-seventh  ward,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  Aug.  27, 
1864,  and  came  to  the  thirty- seventh  ward 
when  seven  years  old.  Here  he  was 
raised  and  was  given  a  limited  education 
in  the  public  schools,  which  ended  in  his 
fifteenth  year.  After  this  he  worked  at 
various  employments  until  he  became  of 
age,  when  he  became  agent  and  ward 
correspondent  for  a  number  of  Pittsburg 
papers.  Thus  he  spent  about  ten  years 
of  his  life  and  in  the  meantime,  about 
1887,  he  became  interested  in  the  real  estate  business,  in  which  he 
has  since  been  successfully  engaged.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
alderman  from  the  thirty-seventh  ward,  and  served  one  five-year 
term.  He  then  devoted  himself  for  several  years  to  his  business 
interests,  and  in  September,  1898,  was  appointed  alderman  to  fill  a 
vacancy.  At  the  regular  election,  in  February,  1899,  he  was 
elected  to  the  position  on  the  republican  ticket.  In  1890  and  1892 
he  was  a  candidate  for  legislative  honors,  but  failed  to  obtain  the 
nomination.  Mr.  Robinson  is  known  as  a  man  temperate  in  habits, 
methodical  and  energetic  in  business  affairs.  He  is  charitable  in 
word  as  well  as  in  deed  and  has  won  the  respect  of  all  those  who 
have  had  the  pleasure  of  coming  into  close  touch  with  him  in  a 
business  or  social  way.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  a  Knight  Templar  and  Shriner. 

CHARLES  J.  RUHLANDT,  register  of  deeds,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  on  the  South  Side,  July  27,  i860,  and  there 
reared  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  When  nine  years  old 
he  worked  two  months  in  a  glass  factory,  and  returning  to  school, 
continued  until  1873,  when  he  left  for  good  to  work  in  a  glass 
factory  on  the  South  Side.  From  1880  to  1885  he  was  associated 
with  his  brother,  J.  W.  Ruhlandt,  in  a  hotel  on  the  South  Side, 
and  from  1885  to  1896  was  engaged  in  the  cafe  business.  During 
this  time,  from  1886  to  1888,  he  was  also  employed  in  the  prothon- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  441 

otary's  office.  In  1896  Mr.  Ruhlandt  was  appointed  street 
inspector,  serving  in  this  capacity  a  year,  and  was  then  for  two 
years  otherwise  engaged  in  the  city  service.  In  February,  1899, 
he  was  appointed  assistant  superintendent  of  streets,  serving  in 
this  position  five  months,  and  was  then  appointed  to  his  present 
office,  in  which  he  has  given  good  satisfaction.  In  November, 
1 90 1,  after  being  out  of  office  two  months,  Mr.  Ruhlandt  was 
reappointed,  and  is  now  serving  under  this  appointment.  Mr. 
Ruhlandt  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics  and  the  Maccabees. 

HENRY  CHARLES  EVERT,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  lawyer  and 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  H.  C. 
Evert  &  Co.,  patent  attorneys,  of  Pitts- 
burg and  Washington,  D.  C,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  Sept.  iz,  1869,  son  of  Henry 
and  Marie  (Nahmacher)  Evert.  His 
father  was  born  on  Nov.  i,  1825,  came  to 
Pittsburg  at  an  early  age  and  there  was 
well  known  as  a  wholesale  liquor  dealer 
and  an  importer  of  wines.  He  was  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  commercial 
interests  of  the  city  and  died  on  Jan.  9, 
187 1.  Henry  C.  Evert  was  educated  in  the  rudimentary  courses 
in  the  public  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  Holy  Ghost  college  and 
later  attended  the  Western  university.  He  then  matriculated  at 
the  law  department  of  Georgetown  university,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1890  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  He  con- 
tinued his  studies  there,  devoting  his  time  to  post-graduate  work, 
and  in  1891  received  the  degree  of  master  of  laws.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  on  June  21,  1891,  and  to  the  supreme  court  of 
Pennsylvania  on  Jan.  5,  1895,  being  at  that  time  the  youngest  man 
to  achieve  that  honor.  Mr.  Evert  practices  in  the  superior  court, 
the  supreme  court  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  court  of  appeals 
and  many  other  high  tribunals.  His  present  firm  was  established 
at  Washington  in  1890,  and  later  extended  to  Pittsburg.  His 
associate  in  this  firm  is  Mr.  A.  M.  Wilson,  of  Washington,  D. C, 
a  well-known  solicitor  of  patents  of  the  national  capital,  with  offices 
at  No.  616  Ninth  St.,  opposite  the  patent  office.  Mr.  Evert  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  chamber  of  commerce  and  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church  and  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward. 


442  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

WILLIAM  B.  ARMSTRONG,  alderman  from  the  twenty-third 
ward,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  July  12,  1854.  He  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Chicago  when  six  years  old,  and  remained  there 
ten  years,  attending  the  public  schools.  Returning  to  Pittsburg, 
Mr.  Armstrong  went  to  work  in  a  tan-yard  and  followed  this  voca- 
tion successfully  for  about  twenty  years,  part  of  the  time  running  a 
tan-yard  of  his  own.  He  gave  up  this  business  in  1888,  and  spent 
two  years  in  the  grocery  business  at  Scottdale,  Westmoreland 
county.  Returning  to  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Armstrong  became  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Second  Avenue  traction  company,  and  was 
so  engaged  until  1900,  when  he  was  elected  alderman  for  a  five- 
year  term,  on  the  republican  ticket.  Alderman  Armstrong  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Maccabees,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  Royal  Arcanum, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  its  Encampment  branch.  In  religions  belief  he 
affiliates  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

©FRANK  ORBIN,  superintendent  of 
the  bureau  of  electricity  of  the  city  of 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Butler  county. 
Pa.,  in  1871.  His  father  being  a 
Methodist  minister,  and  thus  transferred 
from  place  to  place,  Mr.  Orbin  spent  his 
youth  at  various  points  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  After  the  usual  prepa- 
ration, he  entered  the  Pennsylvania  state 
college,  graduating  from  the  mechanical 
engineering  department  in  1893,  and  then 
gained  a  year's  practical  experience  in 
the  Westinghouse  plant  at  Pittsburg. 
After  this  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  physics  and  electricity 
at  Johns  Hopkins  university.  Thus  thoroughly  prepared, .  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg  in  1895  as  an  inspector 
in  the  bureau  of  electricity,  his  duty  being  to  inspect  all  electrical 
work  done  in  the  city.  Mr.  Orbin  was  advanced  from  this  position 
in  1901  to  be  chief  inspector,  and  in  May,  1902,  was  made  superin- 
tendent of  the  bureau.  Mr.  Orbin  is  a  member  of  the  Engineers' 
society  of  western  Pennsylvania,  and  the  American  institute  of 
electrical  engineers.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Methodist  and  in 
politics  a  republican.  He  resides  in  the  nineteenth  ward,  Pitts- 
burg. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


443 


JAMES  V.  McMASTERS,  alderman  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg 
and  police  magistrate,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Dec.  24,  1854,  and 
there  raised  and  educated.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  county  prothohotary,  and  remained  there  three 
years.  Mr.  McMasters  was  after  this  employed,  up  to  1877,  in 
the  office  of  his  father,  who  was  at  that  time  alderman  from  the 
fifth  ward.  He  next  entered  the  employ  of  James  Getty,  a  whole- 
sale liquor  dealer,  and  remained  there  eight  years.  In  February, 
1885,  Mr.  McMasters  was  elected  alderman  from  the  second  ward 
and  has  since  been  three  times  re-elected.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  American  Eagles. 


NICHOLAS   H.  VOEGTLV. 


JACOB  JOHN  VOEGTLY,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  prominent  young  attorney, 
with  offices  in  the  Syndicate  block  at  No. 
518  Fourth  Ave.,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
city,  Jan.  i,  1875,  son  of  Nicholas  H.  and 
Mary  (Steiner)  Voegtly.  The  Voegtly 
family  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
Allegheny  county  and  is  of  Swiss  origin. 
Nicholas  Voegtly,  Jr.,  the  grandfather  of 
Jacob  John,  having  settled  in  Pittsburg  in 
1822,  was  the  first  member  of  the  family 
to  locate  in  America.  He  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Allegheny  county,  front- 
ing on  the  Allegheny  river,  which  is  now 
included  in  the  fourth,  eighth,  third  and  seventh  wards  of  Alle- 
gheny city.  He  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  and  also  served  as 
councilman  of  Allegheny  city.  He  married  Maria  Rickenbach  and 
their  children  were:  Mary,  widow  of  Henry  Gerwig,  now  residing 
in  Allegheny  city;  Henrietta  (deceased);  Elizabeth  (deceased),  who 
married  Jacob  Kopp;  Susan  (deceased),  who  married  John 
Habermehl,  and  Nicholas  H.  Nicholas  H,  Voegtly  was  born  in 
Allegheny  city,  Nov.  23,  1834,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  city. 
He  was  an  active  citizen  of  that  corporation  and  for  thirty-five 
years  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  represented  the 
third  ward  of  Allegheny  city  in  the  council  for  sixteen  years,  served 
several  terms  in  the  legislature  and  was  mayor  of  Allegheny  city 
for  a  short  period  immediately  preceding  his  death.  He  was  a 
director  in  the  German  National  and  the  Third  National  banks  and 
was  also  financially  interested  in  other  banking  institutions.  He 
was  a  director  of  three  bridge  companies  and  was  secretary  and 


444  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

treasurer  of  the  Sixteenth  Street  bridge  company.  He  was  closely 
identified  with  the  Voegtly  Presbyterian  church  of  Allegheny  city, 
the  building  site  of  which  was  donated  by  his  father.  Nicholas  H. 
Voegtly  was  married  to  Alary  Steiner  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  William  N.,  Charles,  Frank  L.,  Edwin  B.,  Annie,  wife 
of  Edward  E.  Eggers;  Helen  S.,  Robert,  Florence  R. ,  Emma  M., 
Nicholas  H.,  Jr.,  Jacob  J.,  Flora  E.,  Gertrude  O.  and  Oscar,  who 
died  in  childhood.  Jacob  J.  Voegtly  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Allegheny  city,  entering  the  high  school  in  1891,  later 
attended  the  Park  institute  and  in  September,  1893,  matriculated 
at  the  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  June,  1897.  He  then  entered  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  for  two  years, 
later  read  law  in  the  offices  of  W.  B.  Rodgers  and  J.  H.  Johnston, 
and  in  December,  1900,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Since  then  he 
has  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  courts  and  stands  well  among  the  younger  element  of  the 
legal  fraternity. 

ROBERT  DUNN  LAYTON,  immigrant  inspector,  post  of 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Pa.,  in  1847,  and  when  two 
years  old  moved  with  his  parents  to  West  End,  Pittsburg.  Five 
years  later  the  family  moved  to  the  city,  and  there  Mr.  Layton  was 
reared,  and  attended  the  public  schools.  Later  he  continued  his 
studies  at  Westminster  college.  New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  but  left 
that  institution  in  February,  1864,  to  enter  the  Union  army,  enlist- 
ing as  a  private  in  Company  E,  13th  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  He 
served  with  this  regiment  until  mustered  out  in  the  early  summer 
of  1865,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  Philadelphia  some  time 
later.  During  the  war  Mr.  Layton  took  part  in  all  the  principal 
battles  and  arduous  campaigns  in  which  his  company  was  engaged. 
He  was  never  wounded,  never  in  the  hospital,  never  had  a  fur- 
lough, and  never  asked  for  a  pension.  Just  before  the  surrender 
of  Joe  Johnston,  in  April,  1865,  Mr.  Layton  was  captured  and  held 
prisoner  for  four  days  in  a  barn,  and  then,  with  twenty-five  others, 
escaped  and  rejoined  his  regiment.  After  receiving  his  discharge 
at  Philadelphia,  he  returned  to  Pittsburg  and  learned  the  tool- 
makers'  trade,  which  had  been  his  father's  trade.  He  worked  at 
this  until  1882,  when  he  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
national  organization  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  He  was  twice 
re-elected  to  this  position,  and  then,  at  the  convention  held  at 
Cincinnati  in  1885,  resigned  and  went  into  the  insurance  business 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  445 

in  Pittsburg,  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  three  years.  At  the 
suggestion  of  Senator  Quay,  Mr.  Layton  was  sent  to  Indiana  to 
assist  the  state  republican  committee  in  arranging  for  speakers  and 
planning  the  republican  campaign.  He  was  occupied  thus  until 
the  succeeding  election  in  November,  1888.  He  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg, closed  up  his  insurance  business,  and  in  June,  1889,  was 
appointed  by  President  Harrison  as  immigrant  inspector  at  the 
post  of  Pittsburg,  he  being  the  first  to  hold  that  office  at  Pittsburg. 
In  June,  1893,  Mr.  Layton  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland, 
returning  to  the  insurance  business  for  several  years.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1898,  he  was  again  appointed  to  office,  stationed  at  New  York 
for  a  time  as  boarding  officer,  and  in'  May,  1898,  was  appointed  to 
his  old  place  as  immigrant  inspector  at  Pittsburg.  In  performance 
of  the  duties  of  this  office,  Mr.  Layton  acts  as  Chinese  inspector, 
and  as  such  has  transported  more  people  than  all  the  other  interior 
posts  put  together,  a  record  which  testifies  to  exceptional  watchful- 
ness and  attention  to  duty.  Mr.  Layton  is  a  member  of  Post 
No.  3,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  belongs  to  no  church. 

FRANCIS  J.  TORRANCE.  Among 
the  "Captains  of  Industry,"  whose  com- 
manding ability  and  eminent  success  have 
made  their  names  familiar  wherever  the 
English  tongue  is  spoken,  Francis  John 
Torrance,  first  vice-president  of  the 
Standard  sanitary  manufacturing  com- 
pany, president  of  the  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania exposition  society,  president  of  the 
select  council,  and  connected  in  many 
ways  with  numerous  other  positions  of 
honor,  trust  and  responsibility,  stands 
out  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of 
this  great  industrial  metropolis  of  America.  He  was  born  in  the 
third  ward,  city  of  Allegheny,  on  June  27,  1859,  and  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  of  his  birth.  Mr.  Torrance  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  the  son  of  Francis  Torrance,  one  of  the  earlier  and  best- 
known  of  the  business  men  of  Allegheny  county,  who  came  to 
America  from  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1850,  when  thirty  years  of 
age,  and  located  in  Allegheny  county.  He  was  one  of  the  large 
family  of  Francis  Torrance,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  County  Donegal,  in  the 
north  of  Ireland.      The  father  of  Francis  J.  was  a  man  of  sterling 


446  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

worth  and  honesty,  and  soon  took  a  leading  part  in  the  develop- 
ment of  his  adopted  county.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Standard  manufacturing  company,  of  which  he  was  president  many 
years,  and  was  the  manager  of  the  Schenley  estate  for  over  thirty 
years.  He  held  many  positions  of  local  importance,  which  shows 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Allegheny  city  select  council  and  of  the  school  board  for 
eighteen  years,  a  trustee  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Allegheny  and 
president  of  the  board.  Francis  J.  was  given  a  good  education. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  city  and  graduated 
from  the  third  ward  school  in  1874.  He  took  a  course  at  Newell 
institute  and  completed  his  school  education  at  the  Western  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  He  entered  upon  his  remarkable  business 
career  in  connection  with  his  father,  first  as  a  clerk  and  then  as 
superintendent  of  the  Standard  "manufacturing  company,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  death  of  his  father,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  in  1886.  After  his  father's  death,  the  son  was  appointed 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  company  in  Pittsburg,  and  is 
at  present  the  first  vice-president,  with  offices  in  the  Arrott  build- 
ing. This  company  has  one  of  the  finest  and  most  extensive 
enameling  works  in  the  world,  located  in  Allegheny  city.  Over 
1,000  men  are  employed,  and  branch  offices  are  located  in  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburg,  Chicago,  Buffalo,  San  Francisco  and 
Montreal.  Mr.  Torrance  is  also  president  of  the  Washington  street 
railway  company,  president  of  the  Riverside  land  company,  presi- 
dent of  the  Pittsburg  natatorium  company,  and  president  of  the 
Western  Pennsylvania  exposition  society,  whose  latest  and  most 
successful  session  (1902)  closed  in  a  blaze  of  musical  glory  under 
Sousa,  Creatore  and  Damrosch.  Few  men  have  risen  to  such 
prominence  at  such  an  early  age  as  Mr.  Torrance.  Genial,  kind, 
easily  approached,  courteous  to  old  and  young,  rich  and  poor  alike, 
he  is  first  and  foremost  in  every  good  work,  whether  of  business, 
social,  religious,  benevolent,  educational  or  civic  importance.  He 
is  a  steam  engine  so  far  as  the  accomplishment  of  hard  work  is 
concerned,  but  does  it  so  easily  and  good-naturedly  that  the  cares 
and  struggles  of  business  have  failed  to  furrow  his  ruddy,  almost 
boyish  face,  and  he  bids  fair  to  grow  younger  instead  of  older-look- 
ing with  the  advancing  years.  Mr.  Torrance  married  Miss  Mary  R. 
Dibert,  daughter  of  David  and  Lydia  (Griffith)  Dibert,  of  Johns- 
town, Nov.  6,  1884.  They  have  but  one  child,  a  daughter,  Jane. 
Mr.  Torrance  is  a  member  of  the  Americus  club,  Pittsburg,  and 
was  its  president  for  two  years.      He  is  also  a  member  of  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 


447 


Duquesne  dub,  of  the  Press  club  and  of  the  Fulton  club,  New  York 
city;  also  the  Stollers  and  the  Pennsylvania  society.  New  York  city. 
He  is  president  of  the  Allegheny  select  council,  and  is  chairman 
ex-officio  of  all  the  standing  committees  of  said  council.  In  1895 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hastings  commissioner  of  public 
charities  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  State 
board  of  charities  in  1902.  Mr.  Torrance  has  been  prominently 
mentioned  for  governor  of  Pennsylvania.  Commanding  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  all  classes  of  his  fellow-citizens  as  he  does, 
he  could  be  elected  to  any  office  of  trust  and  honor  to  which  he 
might  aspire. 


HENRY  HULL  NEGLEY,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  a  leading  attorney-at-law,  with 
offices  at  No.  413  Grant  St.,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  Nov.  12,  1868,  son  of  Maj. 
Felix  C.  and  Margaret  A.  (Dickson) 
Negley,  his  father  having  died  on  Oct.  5, 
1901.  Maj.  Felix  C.  Negley  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Patterson)  Negley, 
the  former  having  been  born  in  East 
Liberty,  then  known  as  Libertytown, 
where  his  father  owned  the  tract  of  land 
extending  from  Penn  avenue  to  the  Alle- 
gheny river,  and  from  Black  Horse  hill, 
Negley's  Run,  and  included  all  of  the 
John  Negley  for  many  years  owned  and 
operated -a  stage-coach  line  from  Pittsburg  to  Buffalo,  and  was  also 
extensively  engaged  in  agriculture,  quarrying  stone  and  granite 
and  the  manufacture  of  brick.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  state  legislature  and  at  one  time  was  tendered  the  nomination 
for  governor  by  the  democratic  party.  He  had  a  long  and  useful 
career  and  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-four  years.  Maj.  Felix 
C.  Negley  was  born  in  Butler,  Pa.,  Feb.  28,  1825,  and  was  a  civil 
engineer  by  profession.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Civil  war, 
he  organized  and  equipped,  at  a  personal  cost  of  over  $60,000,  a 
battalion  of  cavalry,  known  as  the  Negley  scouts,  of  which  com- 
mand he  was  major.  This  battalion  saw  active  service  during  the 
threatened  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  the  nucleus  from 
which  was  formed  the  ist  Pennsylvania  volunteer  cavalry,  of 
which  organization  Major  Negley  was  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was 
also   commissioned  as  major  in  the  recruiting  service  by  Governor 


now   Rebecca    street,  to 
present   Highland  park. 


448  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Curtin,  and  performed  his  work  well,  which  was  that  of  enlisting 
negroes  in  Georgia  and  Alabama  for  the  northern  army.  While 
in  this  latter  service,  he  was  twice  drafted  but  on  each  occasion 
paid  a  substitute  and  continued  in  the  recruiting  branch  of  the 
army.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
the  north  and  engaged  in  his  customary  pursuits.  He  was  prom- 
inent in  political  affairs  and  was  closely  identified  with  the  repub- 
lican party.  He  held  the  ofiEice  of  school  director  in  the  second 
and  fifth  wards  of  Pittsburg  for  many  years,  was  a  member  and 
president  of  the  Pittsburg  central  board  of  education  for  twenty- 
one  years  and  represented  the  various  districts  as  school  director 
for  over  forty  years.  He  amassed  considerable  wealth  but  lost 
heavily  in  the  panic  of  1873-74.  Henry  H.  Negley  acquired  his 
elementary  training  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Pittsburg, 
and  later  spent  two  years  at  the  United  States  military  academy  at 
West  Point,  which  he  was  compelled  to  leave  on  account  of  his 
failing  health.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  Ohio  Northern 
university  and  there  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
arts.  He  then  matriculated  at  the  Ohio  college  of  law  and  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1898,  with  the  bachelor  of  laws  degree. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Ohio  in  October,  1898,  and  to 
practice  in  Allegheny  county,  in  March,  1902,  the  intervening  time 
having  been  devoted  to  traveling  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Negley  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  courts,  has  a  fine  practice  and  enjoys  a  splendid  standing 
among  his  brother  attorneys.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  an  active  and  enthusiastic  republican,  taking  consider- 
able interest  in  political  matters  but  never  seeking  office.  He  is 
also  prominently  identified  with  Company  E,  3d  regiment,  United 
Boys'  Brigades  of  America,  and  holds  a  commission  in  that 
organization. 

WILLIAM  J.  GLENN,  clerk  in  the  prothonotary's  office,  Pitts- 
burg, has  a  military  record  equaled  by  few  men.  He  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Civil  war,  during  riots  and  other  difficulties  in 
Pennsylvania  after  the  war,  and  finally  in  the  late  Spanish- Amer- 
ican war.  Colonel  Glenn  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Scott  township, 
Allegheny  county,  in  1840,  and  was  educated  in  the  country  schools 
and  at  an  academy  at  Mansfield,  now  Carnegie.  In  August,  1861, 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  6ist  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until  mustered  out  in  September, 
1864.  He  was  promoted  to  sergeant-major  in  September,  1861,  and 
to  second  lieutenant  in  May,  1862.      He  had  charge  of  his  company 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  449 

at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862,  was  recommended  for  promotion 
on  account  of  gallant  service  in  that  battle,  and  in  January,  1863, 
was  made  captain.  Colonel  Glenn  fought  at  Williamsburg,  Va., 
and  then  at  Fair  Oaks,  where,  on  May  31,  1862,  he  was  severely 
wounded  and  disabled  for  sixty  days,  so  that  he  missed  the  seven 
days'  fight  at  Richmond.  After  this  he  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Chantilly,  at  second  Bull  Run,  at  Antietam,  where  he  was 
acting  adjutant,  and  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  His  regiment  took  a 
leading  part  in  the  battle  of  Mary's  Heights,  making  the  first 
charge  over  the  bridge,  taking  the  heights;  then  marching  on  to 
Salem  church,  where  another  fierce  conflict  took  place,  and  then 
returning  across  the  river.  The  gallant  6ist  arrived  at  Gettysburg 
on  the  second  day  of  July,  1863,  after  a  march  of  forty-three  miles 
without  stopping  for  coffee,  one  of  the  hardest  marches  in  the 
history  of  the  war.  After  Gettysburg,  Colonel  Glenn  fought  with 
his  regiment  at  Mine  Run,  the  Wilderness,  and  on  the  James  river, 
being  wounded  in  the  arm  in  the  last-named  fight,  and  later  took 
part  in  engagements  near  Petersburg  and  Harper's  Ferry.  At 
Harper's  Ferry,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  regiment,  he  was 
wounded  in  the  leg.  After  a  few  minor  skirmishes.  Colonel  Glenn 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  spent  several  years  in  the  oil 
region  of  Pennsylvania,  and  then  returned  to  Mansfield,  where,  in 
1874,  he  was  made  justice  of  the  peace.  He  served  ten  years  in 
this  capacity  and  in  1884  became  superintendent  of  the  Allegheny 
county  home,  holding  this  position  until  1897,  when  he  resigned  to 
go  into  the  county  commissioners'  office.  In  April,  1898,  Colonel 
Glenn  again  took  up  arms  for  his  country  in  the  Spanish-American 
war,  as  colonel  of  the  14th  Pennsylvania  national  guard.  He  went 
with  the  regiment  to  South  Carolina  and  remained  there  until 
mustered  out  in  March,  1899.  Returning  then  to  civil  life,  he  was 
employed  in  the  coroner's  office  until  April,  1902,  when  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  as  clerk  in  the  prothonotary's  office.  Besides  his 
careers  in  two  wars.  Colonel  Glenn  can  be  proud  of  his  record  in 
the  national  guard.  In  August,  1874,  he  organized  Company  K, 
14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  national  guard,  and  was  elected  its 
captain.  In  1885  he  became  major  of  the  regiment,  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  in  1889  and  colonel  in  1895.  He  served  as  such 
until  September,  1899,  when,  his  time  having  expired,  he  was 
mustered  out.  He  served  with  his  regiment  at  the  railroad  riot  in 
Pittsburg  in  1877,  and  shortly  afterwards  at  the  coal  riots  in 
Luzerne  county.  He  also  distinguished  himself  for  gallantry  dur- 
ing  the    Johnstown    flood,  and   at   the    Homestead   riots   in   1892. 

1-29 


450  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Colonel  Glenn  attended  the  inauguration  of  every  president  from 
Garfield  to  McKinley,  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  153,  G.  A.  R., 
of  which  he  was  the  first  commander,  and  belongs  to  the  Union 
Veteran  Legion,  No.  i,  of  Pittsburg,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Loyal 
Legion.  As  a  great-grandson  of  James  Glenn,  a  Revolutionary 
war  soldier  wlio  served  at  Valley  Forge,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  the  Presbyterian  church. 

WILLIAM  HUGH  FRANCIES, 
fourth-ward  member  of  the  common 
council  of  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  is  one  of 
the  younger  members  of  that  body.  He 
was  born  in  the  ward  he  now  represents, 
Dec.  31,  1874,  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction,  his  parents  being  Samuel  and 
Prudence  Francies,  long-time  residents 
of  Allegheny  city.  William  received  his 
primary  instruction  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  fourth  ward.  In  1890  he  completed 
the  course  of  study  in  the  ward  school, 
and  soon  after  entered  the  engineering 
department  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating 
as  a  civil  engineer  in  1896.  For  three  years  he  was  associated  with 
A.  G.  Shaw  in  the  engineering  business,  and  was  then  for  two 
years  in  the  same  line  of  work  with  the  Monongahela  street  rail- 
road company.  In  1901  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  engineering 
department  of  the  American  bridge  company,  of  A.llegheny  city, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Francies  is  a  young  man  of  high 
moral  ideals.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
and  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Central  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  of  the  Americus  club  of  the  same  city.  In  politics  he  repre- 
sents the  younger  element  of  the  republican  party,  which  in  recent 
years  has  wielded  such  a  powerful  influence  in  shaping  the  destinies 
of  that  organization.  He  was  elected,  in  February,  1903,  to  the 
common  council,  where  his  technical  knowledge  of  engineering 
was  recognized  by  an  appointment  on  the  committee  on  public 
works.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  library  and  water  committees. 
In  the  exercise  of  his  official  functions,  he  is  actuated  by  the  same 
conscientiousness  that  has  distinguished  his  conduct  in  his  private 
affairs,  and  to  which  is  due  his  high  standing  in  the  community. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  451 

JOHN  CAHILL,  a  prominent  Pittsburg  real  estate  man  and 
formerly  alderman  from  the  eighth  ward,  was  born  in  Pittsburg  in 
1854.  When  a  boy  he  attended  the  city  schools,  but  received  only 
a  limited  education,  being  compelled  to  leave  school  at  the  age  of 
twelve.  He  learned  the  trade  of  glass-blower  and  followed  this 
vocation  until  1891,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Pattison 
to  serve  as  alderman  from  the  eighth  ward.  In  1892  he  was  elected 
to  the  position  for  a  five-year  term  and  re-elected  in  1897.  In  1902 
he  was  again  a  candidate,  but  was  defeated  by  Isaac  Levy.  Mr. 
Cahill  has  been  for  years  an  influential  democrat  and  still  takes  an 
active  interest  in  party  matters.  While  engaged  at  his  trade  as  a 
glass-blower,  he  acted  as  delegate  to  several  conventions,  notably 
the  one  in  187S  which  organized  the  American  flint  glass 
workers'  association.  Since  that  time  he  has  served  as  secretary 
of  the  association.  Mr.  Cahill  belongs  to  no  secret  orders.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

GEORGE  L.  HOUSE,  superintendent 
of  masonry  at  the  Duquesne  furnaces, 
but  a  resident  of  Braddock,  was  born  in 
Pittsburg,  Dec.  18,  1852.  He  is  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Horton)  House, 
the  father  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pa., 
and  a  son  of  George  House,  who  came  to 
America  from  Baden-Baden,  Germany, 
in  the  eighteenth  century.  Margaret 
(Horton)  House,  the  mother  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Mabel  (McCune)  Horton, 
of  Minersville,  Pitt  township.  Pa.,  now 
the  thirteenth  ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  George  L.  House 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  city,  in 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  whither  he  had  moved  with  his  parents  in  1865, 
and  in  Sciotoville,  Ohio,  which  became  his  home  three  years  after 
leaving  Pennsylvania.  Upon  finishing  his  school  work,  Mr.  House 
learned  the  brick-layers'  trade,  and  has  since  devoted  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  to  that  line  of  business.  In  early  manhood  he 
returned  to  Pittsburg,  his  native  city,  and  worked  for  a  time  at  the 
rolls  in  the  Carnegie  mills,  on  Thirty-ninth  street.  In  1876  he 
became  a  street-car  conductor  for  a  time,  but  on  March  6,  1878, 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Edgar  Thompson  steel  company,  work- 
ing at  his  trade,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  was  made  foreman.      This 


452  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

responsible  position  Mr.  House  held  for  ten  years,  and  then 
embarked  in  the  contracting  business  with  William  Porter  under 
the  firm  name  of  House  &  Porter.  This  firm  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful and  has  earned  a  just  reputation  for  first-class  and  expert 
workmanship.  July  20,  1895,  Mr.  House  became  superintendent 
of  masonry  at  the  Duquesne  steel  works  and  blast  furnaces,  where 
he  has  had  entire  charge  of  all  the  brick-work  in  the  construction 
of  the  four  large  furnaces,  from  each  of  which  about  500  tons  of 
pig  iron  is  turned  out  daily.  His  industry,  skill  and  faithful  atten- 
tion to  business  has  gained  for  him  the  complete  confidence  of  his 
employers  and  the  good-will  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Mr.  House  is  a 
member  of  Braddock  Field  lodge,  No.  510,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons;  Shiloh  chapter,  No.  257,  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
and  Braddock  Field  lodge,  No.  180,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. He  is  a  stanch  republican,  and  is  now  serving  as  school 
director  in  the  borough  of  Braddock.  He  is  also  a  past  member  of 
the  borough  council. 

JOHN  J.  WALKER,  justice  of  the  peace  of  Allegheny  county, 
with  headquarters  at  No.  911  Wood  St.,  Wilkinsburg,  has  held  that 
position  since  1871,  and  is  the  oldest  justice  in  continuous  com- 
mission in  Allegheny  county.  He  was  born  in  the  third  ward,  Alle- 
gheny city,  Pa.,  Feb.  i,  1841,  was  reared  there  and  attended  its 
schools,  studying  also  at  Mercer  academy,  Mercer,  Pa.,  and  at 
the  Western  university.  He  left  school  when  sixteen  years  old, 
working  as  a  painter  in  Allegheny  city  and  Philadelphia.  On 
April  17,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  7th  Penn- 
sylvania volunteer  infantry  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  take  up  arms 
for  his  country  against  the  rebels.  Mr.  Walker  served  his  three 
months  with  this  regiment,  then  returned  to  Allegheny  city  and 
engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  painting  business.  In  September, 
1861,  he  began  to  raise  a  company  of  artillery,  which  afterwards 
became  Company  C,  2d  Pennsylvania  heavy  artillery.  Mr.  Walker 
was  first  lieutenant  of  the  company  until  March,  1862,  when  he 
resigned  and  returned  for  a  time  to  his  business.  Unable  to  remain 
away  from  duty,  he  re-enlisted  in  August,  1862,  as  a  private  in 
Company  G,  139th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry. 
He  served  until  Dec.  15,  1864,  rising  to  the  position  of  corporal. 
He  then  was  commissioned  captain  of  artillery  in  the  regular  army 
and  served  by  order  of  Mr.  Stanton,  secretary  of  war,  on  detailed 
duty  in  Georgia  and  Tennessee  until  Dec.  9,  1866,  when  he  resigned 
and   came   home.      During   the   war  Mr.  Walker  fought  at  second 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  453 

Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Mary's  Heights, 
second  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  (three  days),  Mine  Run, 
Savage  Station,  the  Wilderness,  Winchester,  Petersburg  and 
Sailor's  Creek.  In  the  Wilderness  he  was  wounded  and  for  six 
weeks  prevented  from  active  service.  He  was  at  Petersburg  from 
July,  1864,  to  February,  1865.  The  war  over,  Mr,  Walker  resumed 
his  painting  business  in  Wilkinsburg  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
1879,  when  he  became  assistant  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of 
courts,  in  Pittsburg.  He  remained  there  until  1885,  then  became 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  treasurer  for  one  year,  and  in  1888 
was  elected  jury  commissioner,  serving  three  years.  Mr.  Walker 
has  since  that  time  devoted  his  attention  to  his  business  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  has  not  held  other  offices,  although  still  taking  an 
active  part  in  republican  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No. 
548,  G.  A.  R.  ;  B.  P.  O.  E.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  and  Jr.  O.  U.  A. 
M.  He  is  past  grand  master  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 

©WILLIAM  H,  SARVER,  the  twelfth- 
ward  member  of  the  Allegheny  city  com- 
mon council,  was  born  in  Allegheny  city, 
Pa.,  in  1864,  and  is  the  son  of  William  J, 
and  Helena  Sarver,  His  father  is  one  of 
the  oldest  jewelry  merchants  in  the  city, 
his  store  on  Federal  street  having  been  a 
landmark  for  the  last  forty  years.  After 
attending  a  private  school  for  some  time 
and  the  public  schools  of  the  first  ward 
until  he  completed  all  the  grades,  Mr. 
Sarver  went  into  the  jewelry  store  with 
his  father,  with  whom  he  is  still  asso- 
ciated, having  an  interest  in  the  business.  As  a  member  of  the 
council,  he  is  on  some  of  the  most  important  standing  committees, 
among  which  are  the  committees  on  public  works  and  corporations. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  a  sub-committee  on  public  parks  and  prop- 
erty. His  appointment  to  these  committees  is  a  fitting  recognition 
of  his  public  spirit,  his  executive  ability  and  his  business  integrity. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  he  is  always  ready  to  defend  his 
political  opinions.  He  has  frequently  been  called  upon  to  serve 
his  party  in  the  capacity  of  a  delegate  to  the  nominating  conven- 
tions. On  such  occasions  he  has  invariably  given  his  support  to  the 
candidates  who  had  nothing  in  their  records  which  they  might  be 


454  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

called  upon  to  explain  or  for  which  they  might  have  to  apologize, 
believing  with  the  late  President  Hayes  that  "He  serves  his  party 
best  who  serves  his  country  best,"  and  believing  also  that  defeat 
with  a  clean  ticket  is  better  in  the  end  than  victory  with  a  corrupt 
one.  Mr.  Sarver  is  well  known  in  church  and  Masonic  work,  being 
a  member  of  Perrysville  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
Stuckrath  lodge,  No.  430,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  was 
married,  in  1887,  to  Miss  Lydie  R.  Osborn,  of  Allegheny  city,  and 
two  bright  boys,  Earl  F.  and  William  J.,  Jr.,  have  been  born  to 
them.  In  business,  in  his  official  position  and  in  his  church  and 
lodge  relations,  Mr.  Sarver  sustains  an  irreproachable  character, 
due  to  his  genial  disposition  and  his  inherent  good  qualities. 

FREDERICK  RUOFF,  pastor  of  the  First  German  Evan- 
gelical Protestant  church,  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Balingen, 
Wiirtemberg,  Germany,  June  16,  1851,  and  raised  and  educated  in 
Germany.  Rev.  Ruoff  received  an  unusually  complete  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country.  He  first  attended  the  Latin 
school  in  his  home  town,  and  then  went  to  a  high  school  in 
Tiibingen,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1865.  After  this  he 
attended  the  theological  seminary  in  Blaubeuren,  graduating  in 
1868,  and  in  May,  1870,  graduated  from  the  University  of  Tubin- 
gen. He  then  joined  the  German  army  and  fought  throughout  the 
Franco- Prussian  war.  Entering  as  a  private  in  the  13th  flying 
artillery,  he  was  promoted  to  ensign  after  the  battle  of  Woerth,  and 
was  made  second  lieutenant  after  the  battle  of  Sedan.  In  the 
battles  of  Villiers  and  Champigny  he  was  twice  wounded  and 
captured  by  the  enemy.  He  was  sent  a  captive  to  Paris  and  there 
held  for  two  months.  On  being  released,  he  spent  six  weeks  in 
the  hospital  at  Lagny  and  then  joined  his  battery  near  Paris  and 
served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  Besides  the  battles  already 
mentioned,  he  took  a  creditable  part  in  many  minor  battles  and 
skirmishes.  After  the  war,  Mr.  Ruoff  was  selected  to  go  to  the 
government  riding  school  at  Hanover,  where  he  remained  six 
months  and  then  served  a  year  and  a  half  with  his  regiment.  In 
1873  he  left  the  army  and  the  following  year  became  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Mount  Auburn,  at  Cincinnati.  Here  he  remained  until 
1879,  when  he  came  to  Pittsburg  and  assumed  his  present  charge. 
During  his  long  service  in  Pittsburg,  Rev.  Ruoff  has  fulfilled  his 
duties  as  pastor  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  congregation  and  has 
made  friends  among  all  classes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and 
A.  M..  and  A.  O.  U.  W. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  455 

ISAAC  NEWTON  PATTERSON,  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney-at- 
law,  with  offices  at  No.  413  Fourth  Ave., 
was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  July  2,  1851, 
son  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Young) 
Patterson,  the  former  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  in  1808,  and  when  two 
years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to 
America  and  located  in  Mercer  county. 
Pa.  Abraham  Patterson  removed  to 
Allegheny  city  in  1825,  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  was  engaged  in 
building  and  timber  manufacturing.  He 
served  in  the  councils  of  Allegheny  city  and  Manchester,  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  progress  of  the  city  until  his  death, 
July  13,  1865.  Elizabeth  Young,  mother  of  the  subject,  was  born 
in  Scotland  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in  18 19,  located 
in  Allegheny  city,  where  she  was  married,  on  Nov.  20,  1837,  and 
died  in  November,  1895.  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Young) 
Patterson  had  the  following  children:  Alexander  (deceased),  David 
Leslie,  Elizabeth  Y.,  wife  of  the  late  J.  G.  Stephenson,  who  was  a 
prominent  dry  goods  merchant  of  Pittsburg  and  president  of  the 
Arbuthnat-Stephenson  company;  Abram,  better  known  as  Abe 
(deceased) ;  Agnes  P.,  wife  of  Alexander  McClure,  president  of  the 
Alexander  McClure  timber  company;  Isaac  Newton,  Thomas 
Howe,  Lillian  B.,  Frank  P.,  and  four  others  that  died  in  infancy. 
Isaac  Newton  Patterson  was  educated  in  the  rudimentary  courses 
in  the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  city,  later  attended  the  Penn- 
sylvania military  academy,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Western 
university,  in  the  class  of  1871,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts, 
and  three  years  later  his  alma  mater  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  master  of  arts.  In  1871  he  registered  as  a  student  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Stoner  &  Patterson,  and  in  1874  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Allegheny  county,  and  since  has  successfully  practiced 
in  Pittsburg,-  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  association.  Mr.  Patterson  has  served  as  council- 
man and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  the  fifth  ward  of 
Allegheny  city,  and  is  a  prominent  figure  in  the  public  affairs  of 
that  corporation.  He  was  married  in  Pittsburg,  March  25,  1880, 
to  Sadie  J.,  daughter  of  J.  Adolphus  and  Jane  J.  You,  and  though 
they  have  no  children,  their  married  life  is  a  happy  one.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Patterson  attend  the  Sixth   United  Presbyterian  church,  and 


456  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

reside  in  the  fifth  ward  of  Allegheny  city.  Alexander  Patterson 
(deceased),  oldest  brother  of  our  subject,  was  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Allegheny  city,  where  he  was  identified  with  the  lumber  busi- 
ness and  was  a  leader  of  the  republican  side  in  political  matters. 
He  served  in  the  Manchester  council,  was  one  of  the  first  council- 
men  from  that  party  of  Allegheny  city,  and  died  in  February,  1895. 
Abram  Patterson,  known  to  his  friends  as  Abe,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny city  in  August,  1843;  succeeded  his  father  in  the  contracting 
business,  and  was  a  progressive  and  prosperous  citizen.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  13th  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teer infantry,  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  war,  and  participated 
in  many  important  engagements,  being  severely  wounded  in  the 
seven  days'  fights  around  Richmond.  He  was  a  member  of  Post 
No.  88,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  is  now  called  the  Abe 
Patterson  post,  after  him.  He  served  seven  terms  as  post  com- 
mander, and  was  occupying  that  position  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
February,  1882.  David  Leslie  Patterson,  another  brother,  was 
born  Feb.  2,  1840,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Allegheny  city, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  lumber.  He 
has  served  as  councilman  from  the  sixth  ward  for  seven  years,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  was  school  director  for  the  fifth  ward.  He 
is  president  of  the  Standard  building  and  loan  association,  and  a 
member  of  the  Sixth  United  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  organi- 
zation he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  twenty- 
one  years.  He  was  married  in  Allegheny  city,  Sept.  26,  1866,  to 
Duney  E.  Dean,  a  cousin  of  William  Dean  Howells,  the  novelist, 
and  they  have  the  following  children:  Alexander  A.,  an  attorney; 
May  S. ,  wife  ot  Alexander  Marion;  David  Leslie,  who  has  served 
as  city  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Chronicle-Telegraph;  Edna  V.,  wife 
of  Preston  C.  Farrar;  Agnes  L.,  and  Stuart  Young. 

JOHN  C.  HENRY,  chief  clerk  to  the  bureau  of  health,  Pitts- 
burg, has  been  for  years  a  leader  in  republican  politics  and  active 
in  local  party  affairs.  He  was  born  in  the  third  ward,  Pittsburg, 
in  1864,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1881.  He  finished  his  education  by  attending  night 
school,  being  employed  during  the  day  by  John  Paul,  the  hatter. 
After  this  he  was  for  some  time  purchasing  agent  for  the  North 
American  construction  company  and  then  became  general  traveling 
agent  for  R.  D.  Mettell  &  Co.,  dealers  in  electrical  street  railway 
material.  For  a  time  also,  he  worked  as  city  salesman  for  the 
Electrical  supply  and  construction  company,  now  Doubleday,  Hill 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  457 

&  Co.,  and  then,  in  1897,  was  appointed  assistant  clerk  to  the 
mayor  of  Pittsburg,  at  that  time  H.  P.  Ford.  In  the  third  year  of 
Mayor  Ford's  term,  Mr.  Henry  was  appointed  chief  clerk  and 
succeeded  to  the  same  position  under  Mayor  William  J.  Diehl. 
When  the  new  charter  went  into  effect,  in  June,  1901,  Mr.  Henry 
was  made  chief  clerk  to  the  recorder,  Hon.  A.  M.  Brown,  and  in 
the  same  year  obtained  his  present  position.  Mr.  Henry  was 
secretary  of  the  fourteenth  ward  republican  association  for  four- 
teen years,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  republican 
tariff  club,  of  Pittsburg,  for  ten  years.  In  1900  he  was  secretary 
of  the  League  of  republican  clubs  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1901 
acted  as  vice-president  of  the  same  organization.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Royal  Arcanum 
and  belongs  to  the  Episcopal  church. 

CHARLES  LUDLOW  LIVINGSTON, 
attorney-at-law,  with  offices  at  No.  1102 
Frick  building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  a  native 
of  New  York  city,  having  been  born 
there  June  10,  1870.  The  Livingston 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  state  of 
New  York  and  adjoining  states,  Robert 
Livingston,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  coming  to  New  York  in 
1672,  where  he  acquired  a  vast  tract  of 
land  on  the  Hudson  river  and  founded 
Livingston  manor.  William  Livingston, 
the  great-great-grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  grandson  of  Robert,  was  the  famous  Revo- 
lutionary governor  of  New  Jersey,  while  his  great-grandfather, 
Brockholst  Livingston,  was  a  prominent  attorney  of  New  York,  a 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  York,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  a  justice  of  the  United  States  supreme  court.  He  was 
also  a  colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  a  general  in  the  War 
of  181 2.  Through  his  paternal  grandmother,  Mr.  Livingston  is 
descended  from  William  Allen,  who  was  chief  justice  of  Pennsyl- 
vania before  the  Revolution.  Charles  Ludlow  Livingston  is  the 
son  of  Ludlow  and  Mary  (Kieft)  Livingston  and  the  grandson  of 
Anson  Livingston.  He  was  educated  at  Fordham  college  and  New 
York  university,  graduating  in  1891.  Upon  leaving  college,  he 
came  to  Pittsburg  and  perfected  himself  in  the  science  of  steel 
manufacture  and  electricity.      Perceiving  the  immense  advantages 


458  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

of  his  previous  technical  education  if  applied  to  the  field  of  patent 
law,  in  1899  he  took  up  the  study  or  law  at  the  Western  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  completed  the  course  and  commenced  practice  in 
January,  1903,  devoting  his  entire  attention  to  patent  causes,  for 
which  his  previous  mechanical  and  electrical  experience  had  emi- 
nently fitted  him,  and  in  which  line  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative 
clientage.  He  was  married,  on  Nov.  12,  1891,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Keating,  daughter  of  A.  F.  and  Emily  Keating,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  them.  They  are:  Dorothy,  Philip  Anson  and 
Carroll  Ludlow.  They  reside  at  Oakmont,  a  suburb  of  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  Livingston  is  just  approaching  the  age  when  men  accomplish 
their  greatest  achievements,  and  as  his  thorough  knowledge  of 
patent  law,  combined  with  his  practical  electrical  and  mechanical 
experience,  brings  him  into  close  touch  with  ingenious  and  inven- 
tive minds  and  great  industrial  corporations,  it  is  safe  to  predict 
for  him  a  brilliant  future  and  a  career  as  illustrious  as  that  of  any 
of  his  historic  ancestors. 

ROBERT  E.  CLULEY,  cashier  in  the  Pittsburg  postoffice,  was 
born  in  Pittsburg  in  1866.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Pitts- 
burg, graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1884.  Since  that  time 
he  has  had  a  successful  career  in  the  public  service,  being  employed 
in  several  city  oflfices  before  he  obtained  his  present  position.  Mr. 
Cluley's  first  position  was  that  of  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  assessors 
of  Pittsburg,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In  1888  he  became 
bookkeeper  in  the  department  of  charities,  and  was  five  years  later 
promoted  to  the  position  of  chief  clerk,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
seven  years.  Mr.  Cluley  then  became  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  director  of  public  works,  and  was  employed  there  until  June, 
1902,  when  he  was  made  cashier  of  the  Pittsburg  postoffice. 

ANDREW  J.  PITCAIRN,  superintendent  of  the  bureau  of 
health,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  that  city  in  July,  1853.  He  was 
reared  in  Pittsburg,  attended  school  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twelve,  and  afterwards  studied  in  a  night  school.  Mr.  Pitcairn's 
first  occupation  was  in  a  tobacco  factory,  where  he  remained  about 
a  year.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
working  in  the  dispatcher's  office,  and  while  there  learned  teleg- 
raphy. He  afterwards  spent  seven  years  of  his  life  as  a  telegraph 
operator.  In  1875  he  gave  up  this  business  and  was  for  three 
years  deputy  in  the  sheriff's  office.  After  this  he  became  a  passen- 
ger brakeman  for  the  Pennsylvania  company,  and  after  two  years 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 


459 


in  this  position,  his  ability  and  attention  to  duty  won  him  promo- 
tion, and  for  the  next  twenty-one  years,  until  September,  1901,  he 
was  a  railroad  conductor.  He  received  the  appointment  to  his 
present  position  Oct.  i,  1901,  and  has  proved  a  capable  and  faith- 
ful official.  Mr.  Pitcairn  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  public 
affairs.  He  served  in  the  city  council  of  Pittsburg  from  1884  to 
1896,  representing  the  eighth  ward,  and  was  in  1897  member  of 
the  state  legislature  from  the  third  legislative  district.  Mr. 
Pitcairn  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  Mystic  Shriner.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 


SAMUEL  COULTER,  chief  of  police 
of  East  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  England, 
at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  Aug.  18,  1868, 
son  of  James  William  and  Elizabeth 
Coulter.  His  mother  died  when  Samuel 
Coulter  was  three  years  old.  His  father 
left  England  to  try  his  fortunes  in 
America,  and  secured  work  in  the  coal 
mines  of  Ohio,  sending  for  his  children 
later.  Samuel  Coulter  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and 
learned  the  plumbing  and  pipe-fitting 
trade,  at  which  vocation  he  was  engaged 
for  a  number  ot  years.  Hearing  of  the  rapid  rise  of  East  Pittsburg 
as  a  manufacturing  town,  he  moved  there  in  1899,  and  secured  a 
position  as  patrolman.  After  three  years'  service,  he  was  made 
head  of  the  force  in  March,  1902,  and  has  proved  an  able  and 
efficient  chief.  The  police  force  of  East  Pittsburg  consists  of  only 
three  patrolman,  besides  the  chief,  yet  so  effective  is  the  service 
that  this  small  number  is  able  to  keep  the  peace  in  a  town  of  8,000 
workmen.  Mr.  Coulter  was  married,  July  4,  1889,  to  Ella,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Duffy,  early  settlers  of  Perry  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coulter  have  four  children:  James  William,  born 
July  2,  1890;  Agnes,  born  April  25,  1893;  Laurettie,  born  Dec.  22, 
1899,  ^nd  Clara,  born  Aug.  17,  1902.  Chief  Coulter  is  a  member 
of  Turtle  Creek  lodge.  No.  777,  \.  O.  O.  F.  ;  past  chancellor  of  Oak 
Hill  Knights  of  Pythias;  member  of  Court  Pride  of  the  Union  and 
Foresters  of  Braddock.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Methodist.  He 
has  been  prominent  in  democratic  politics,  holds  the  position  of 
inspector,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  county  committee. 


460  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  MARSHALL  STEVEN- 
SON, librarian  of  the  Carnegie  free 
library,  of  Allegheny,  was  born  in  Johns- 
town, Pa.,  Nov.  30,  1855,  He  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  can  trace  his 
family  history  back  to  Robert  Stevenson, 
who  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  Ireland 
in  1677,  ^iid  was  a  very  prominent  man 
in  his  day.  He  is  the  son  of  Ross  and 
Martha  Ann  (Harbison)  Stevenson,  the 
father  born  in  Strabane,  Ireland,  Nov.  12, 
1 814,  and  died  in  Washington,  Pa.,  Jan. 
10,  1893,  and  the  mother  born  at  West 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1831,  and  is  still  living.  The  family  consisted  of 
six  sons  and  one  daughter:  Lizzie  Hurst,  now  Mrs.  Jerome  W. 
Potts;  Matthew  Harbison,  a  practicing  attorney  of  the  Pittsburg 
bar;  Thomas  John,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  Han- 
nibal, Mo. ;  Robert  Francis,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Washing- 
ton, Pa.  ;  Joseph  Ross,  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian 
church,  New  York  city;  Henry  Patterson,  who  died  in  May,  1892, 
and  William  Marshall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  graduated  with  honors  from  Washington  and  Jefferson  college 
in  1876,  having  acted  as  tutor  in  mathematics  in  his  alma  mater 
during  his  senior  year.  For  two  years  after  his  graduation  he  was 
instructor  in  ancient  and  modern  languages  in  the  Placerville  acad- 
emy, California,  and  for  the  next  two  years  studied  music  and 
languages  at  the  leading  institutions  of  the  continent,  chiefly  at  the 
University  of  Leipsic,  the  conservatory  at  Dresden,  and  at  the  Col- 
lege de  France,  Paris.  While  there  he  was  under  the  instruction 
of  some  of  the  noted  scholars,  among  them  being  Breal,  the 
philologist,  and  Renan,  the  great  French  critic.  Upon  his  return 
to  the  United  States,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  called  to  the  chair  of 
Greek  and  Latin  in  the  Pittsburg  central  high  school,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  four  years,  resigning  to  take  up  the  study  of  law. 
He  entered  the  office  of  John  D.  Schafer,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
one  year  later,  and  from  1S85  to  1890  spent  his  time  equally  in  the 
practice  of  law  and  in  journalism,  in  the  latter  case  on  the  staff  of 
the  New  York  Tribune,  and  later,  a  writer  for  the  Chicago  Mail, 
the  Chronicle-Telegraph,  the  Times,  and  the  Commercial  Gazette, 
of  Pittsburg.  His  connection  with  the  Pittsburg  newspapers  was 
in  the  capacity  of  musical  and  dramatic  editor  and  special  reporter 
on  legal  topics.      In  1889  he  again  visited  Europe,  this  time  in  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  461 

study  of  the  Spanish  language  and  literature,  and  shortly  after  his 
return,  was  elected  librarian  of  the  Carnegie  free  library,  of  Alle- 
gheny, the  first  public,  tax-supported  library  founded  by  Mr. 
Carnegie.  Mr.  Stevenson  came  to  his  position  when  the  library 
had  not  one  volume  on  its  shelves,  with  no  one  to  help  him  in  his 
task  of  organization,  and  now  it  contains  50,000  volumes  catalogued, 
and  10,000  pamphlets,  documents  and  duplicates  not  catalogued. 
In  1899  he  secured  from  Mr.  Carnegie  an  additional  gift  of  $25,000 
for  additions  and  improvements.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  a  delegate  to 
the  international  conference  of  librarians  held  in  London  in  1897, 
is  a  member  of  the  American  and  the  Keystone  state  library  associa- 
tions, the  Pennsylvania  free  library  commission,  was  first  president 
of  the  West  Pennsylvania  library  club,  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Western  Pennsylvania  historical  society  and  of  the  Deutscher  Lese 
Verein.  Mr,  Stevenson  is  very  versatile  in  his  attainments,  speaks 
German,  French,  Italian,  Spanish  and  Russian  fluently,  reads 
Dutch,  Danish,  Swedish,  Norwegian,  Portuguese,  modern  Greek 
and  Polish,  with  the  aid  of  a  dictionary,  and  has  studied  Sanskrit, 
Gothic,  Turkish,  Finnish,  Arabic  and  Chinese.  His  literary  work 
has  been  mostly  contributions  to  periodicals  and  local  histories,  and 
in  1S99  he  published  a  sketch,  "Mr.  Carnegie  and  His  Libraries," 
which  met  with  very  favorable  and  enthusiastic  reception.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  in  religion  a  Presbyterian.  He  has 
never  married,  but,  as  he  expresses  it,  "is  wedded  to  his  work." 

LINFORD  L.  DILWORTH,  chief  clerk  of  the  department  of 
public  works,  Pittsburg,  v/as  born  in  the  fourteenth  ward  of  that 
city  in  1855.  He  was  reared  there  and  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  afterwards  became  a  student  at  the  West  Philadelphia  academy, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1874.  He  then  spent  eight  years  as 
clerk  for  his  father,  John  S.  Dilworth,  in  the  grocery  of  Dilworth 
&  Co.,  being  also  for  three  years  of  the  time  engaged  in  the  prod- 
uce business  for  himself.  In  1884  he  embarked  in  the  brokerage 
business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  until  1892,  when  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Carnegie  steel  corporation.  He  remained  with 
this  concern  three  years,  and  then,  in  1895,  began  his  career  in  the 
city  service  as  inspector  in  the  bureau  of  water  supply.  After  two 
years  in  this  position,  Mr.  Dilworth  was  transferred  to  the  board  of 
viewers  as  clerk,  was  made  chief  clerk  the  same  year,  and  served 
as  such  until  June,  1902,  when  he  was  given  his  present  office. 
Mr.  Dilworth  is  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief,  and  in  politics 
an  influential  republican. 


4f:2  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

SAMUEL  G.  BAILEY,  attorney-at- 
law,  whose  office  is  at  No.  807  People's 
savings  bank  building,  Pittsburg,  was 
born  in  Bavington,  Pa.,  July  21,  1874. 
His  parents  were  William  S.  and  Esther 
Ann  (Galbraith)  Bailey,  both  of  whom 
are  living  and  respected  residents  of 
Washington  county.  The  former  is  an 
ardent  republican,  and  has  acceptably 
filled  the  office  of  county  commissioner 
of  Washington  county  for  two  terms. 
Samuel  G.  Bailey  received  his  education 
at  the  Ingleside  academy  and  at  West- 
minster college,  at  Lawrence,  Pa.,  and  also  at  Princeton  uni- 
versity. He  began  reading  law  in  the  office  of  O'Brien  &  Ashley, 
then  took  the  full  law  course  in  the  Western  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, graduating  in  1897.  He  was  at  once  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  began  his  practice  in  Pittsburg,  and  is  now  a  member  of  all 
the  courts.  He  is  a  tireless  worker  in  his  profession  and  is  rapidly 
forging  to  the  front  in  his  practice.  Politically,  he  is  a  republican, 
but  has  affiliated  to  some  extent  with  the  citizens'  movement  in  its 
fight  for  cleaner  and  better  local  and  state  government.  He  was  a 
candidate  for  the  legislature  on  the  citizens'  and  democratic  tickets 
from  the  eighth  legislative  district  in  1902,  and  although  defeated 
by  a  small  margin,  he  demonstrated  his  popularity.  Mr.  Bailey  is 
chairman  of  the  citizens'  organization  in  the  thirty-seventh  ward, 
and  is  alert  to  its  welfare.  He  is  a  member  of  Oakland  lodge, 
^o-  535>  F.  and  A.  M. 

EDWARD  MEYER,  funeral  director  at  No.  4705  Liberty  Ave., 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  the  ninth  ward,  in  1858,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated  in  a  parochial  school.  Leaving 
school  in  1870,  he  became  associated  in  business  with  his  father, 
Anthony  Meyer,  who,  prior  to  his  death  in  1887,  conducted  a  retail 
furniture  store  and  undertaking  business  in  the  ninth  ward.  Mr. 
Meyer  remained  in  the  employ  of  his  father  until  1880,  and  then 
started  for  himself  in  the  undertaking  business  in  the  sixteenth 
ward.  He  moved  to  his  present  pleasant  quarters  in  1894.  Mr. 
Meyer  is  an  independent  in  politics.  He  is  an  earnest  member  of 
St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church.  He  is  a  man  of  unblemished  char- 
acter, as  honest  in  his  business  as  he  is  proficient,  and  enjoys  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  46:i 

JESSE     H.   WRIGHT,   of    Stonedale, 
^^1^^  -  *  Pa.,  closely  identified  with  the  industrial 

/^^^^m.  interests  of  that  section,  was  born  April 

'L|  M^    P  1 8,  1866,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Wright, 

the  former  a  successful  farmer  and  the 
son  of  Irish  parents  who  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Franklin 
township,  Allegheny  county,  Pa.  His 
parents  were  both  born  in  Franklin  town- 
ship and  had  thirteen  children,  four  of 
them  dying  in  infancy,  Baxter  B.  in  1898, 
and  the  others  are:  Mary  E.,  John  F. , 
James  E.,  Robert  M.,  Minnie  E.,  Jesse 
H.,  Harry  R.  and  Luella  M.  Jesse  H.  Wright  has  been  engaged 
in  industrial  lines  the  greater  part  of  his  business  career  and  is  now 
in  the  employ  of  the  South  Pennsylvania  company,  of  Oil  City. 
He  was  married,  on  Oct,  21,  1894,  to  Ida  Downing,  and  they  have 
had  three  children:  Sarah  Eliza  May,  the  eldest,  born  March  14, 
1896;  Raymond  Percy  Wilson,  born  May  28,  1897,  and  a  son  born 
February  13  and  died  March  2,  1901.  Mr.  Wright  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides  and  enjoys 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 
Mrs.  Wright  is  the  daughter  of  Archibald  Downing,  both  father 
and  mother  being  natives  of  Clarion  county,  the  former  born  July 
3,  1826,  and  the  latter  in  1829.  They  were  married  in  185 1  in 
Venango  county,  removing  in  1866  to  Allegheny  county,  where 
they  have  since  resided. 

THOMAS  EDGAR,  alderman  from  the  twenty-ninth  ward, 
Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in  the  thirty-third  ward,  in  1862. 
In  1866  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  the  twenty-ninth  ward,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Upon  leaving 
school  he  was  employed  for  three  years  in  the  ofiice  of  Lewis, 
Oliver  &  Co.,  now  Oliver  Bros.,  as  office  boy.  He  obtained  a 
position  with  the  Lewis  foundry  and  machine  company,  where  he 
learned  the  machinists'  trade,  remaining  with  this  firm  three  and 
a  half  years.  After  this  he  was  employed  for  about  three  years  in 
the  Westinghouse  foundry  and  machine  works,  and  for  a  year  at 
Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  in  the  Hartman  steel  works.  Returning  to 
Pittsburg,  he  was  employed  by  Oliver  Bros,  for  three  years,  and 
by  Jones  &  Laughlin  about  two  years.  In  1892  Mr.  Edgar  engaged 
to  work   for  Mr.  F.  O.  Wolff,  a  civil  engineer,  remaining   at  this 


464  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

employment  until  his  election  as  alderman  from  the  twenty-ninth 
ward  in  1895.  In  the  council,  Mr.  Edgar  performed  his  duties  in 
a  manner  so  satisfactory  to  his  constituents  that  they  re-elected 
him  in  February,  1902.  Before  this  time,  from  1894  to  1897,  he  had 
served  as  school  director.  Mr.  Edgar  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.      In  politics  he  is  an  active  republican. 

THOMAS  RENSHAW,  a  prominent 
mine  superintendent,  residing  in  Car- 
negie, was  born  in  Nottinghamshire, 
England,  Nov.  26,  1850,  son  of  Severn 
and  Sarah  (Burton)  Renshaw.  Severn 
Renshaw  was  a  farmer  in  England.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Estab- 
lished church.  They  both  died  in  Eng- 
land. Thomas  Renshaw,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  the  third  of  four  children. 
Of  the  other  three,  John  died  in  England 
in  1892,  when  fifty-eight  years  old; 
Edward  is  living  in  England,  and  Mary, 
also  a  resident  of  England,  is  the  wife  of  James  Lawrence. 
Thomas  Renshaw  came  to  America  in  1869,  locating  in  Pittsburg, 
and  immediately  commenced  work  in  the  coal  mines,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  coal-mining  ever  since  that  time.  Commencing  at  the 
bottom,  he  has  worked  his  way  up  and  is  now  one  of  the  best- 
known  men  in  his  business  in  Allegheny  county.  He  formerly 
owned  a  quarter  interest  in  the  Nottingham  coal  mines,  which  was 
sold  to  Henry  Floshheim  and  disposed  of  by  him  to  the  Pittsburg 
coal  company.  After  the  Nottingham  mine  was  sold,  Mr. 
Renshaw^  was  employed  by  the  Oak  Ridge  coal  company  for  about 
six  months,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Essen  coal  com- 
pany, where  he  has  for  the  past  ten  years  been  superintendent, 
with  full  charge  of  the  mine.  The  Essen  coal  company  has  now 
been  sold  to  the  Pittsburg  coal  company,  but  Mr.  Renshaw  still 
has  charge  of  the  mine,  where  his  ability  and  faithful  attention  to 
duty  have  made  him  a  valuable  superintendent.  In  politics  Mr. 
Renshaw  is  a  republican,  and  served  three  years  as  auditor  of 
Union  township,  Allegheny  county,  resigning  at  the  end  of  that 
time  because  of  a  change  in  residence.  On  May  30,  1875,  Mr. 
Renshaw  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hepplewhite,  daughter  of  Ralph 
Hepplewhite,  who  was  born  in  England,  and  Elizabeth  (Marshall) 
Hepplewhite,  a   native   of   Banksville,    Allegheny    Co.,  Pa.     Mrs. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  465 

Renshaw  is  the  second  of  three  children.  An  older  sister,  Mary  J., 
married  Ernest  Salt,  and  resides  at  Millville,  Allegheny  county, 
and  a  younger  sister,  Isabella,  lives  at  home  with  her  mother.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thomas  Renshaw  have  had  six  children.  The  first-born, 
Sarah  B.,  died  when  two  years  old,  and  the  youngest,  Alvarine, 
born  Aug.  i6,  1896,  died  Oct.  26,  1899.  Of  the  four  living, 
Margaret  married  J.  B.  Davis,  and  has  one  child,  Ralph  S.  ;  Ralph 
Marshall  is  a  machinist;  Lizzie  Vietta  and  John  D.  are  younger 
children  at  home.  Mr.  Renshaw  and  family  attend  the  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Renshaw  is  a  prominent  and  influential  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle. 

WILLIS  A.  BOOTHE,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney, 
with  offices  at  No.  413  Fourth  Ave.,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  in 
that  part  of  the  city  now  included  in  the  thirteenth  ward  but 
formerly  called  Minersville,  Aug.  6,  185 1,  son  of  Willis  and  Mary 
Ann  (Pusey)  Boothe,  the  former  having  died  in  November,  1889, 
and  the  latter  in  April,  1891.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Nathan  Pusey,  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Washington  county. 
Pa.,  and  a  well-known  citizen  of  that  part  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
father,  Willis  Boothe,  was  born  in  Derby,  Conn.,  in  1806,  and  in  his 
boyhood  removed  to  New  York  state,  locating  at  Binghamton, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1828  he  removed  to  Pitts- 
burg and  engaged  in  different  mercantile  pursuits,  a  large  portion 
of  his  time  being  devoted  to  the  lumber  business.  While  in  no 
sense  of  the  word  a  politician,  yet  Mr.  Boothe  held  several  minor 
offices  and  was  well  known  throughout  the  city.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church  and  for  many  years 
an  elder  of  that  organization.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Ann 
Pusey,  in  Washington  county,  in  1834,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  Martha,  who  married  John  H.  Claney  and  died  in 
September,  1894;  Julia,  wife  of  Fred  Dickinson,  of  Chicago;  Mary 
E,,  who  married  H.  A.  Lavely  and  died  Oct.  27,  1897;  Willis  A., 
and  Nathan  P.,  who  married  Ada  Brandt,  of  Des  Moines,  la. 
Willis  A,  Boothe  was  educated  in  the  splendid  public  schools  of 
Pittsburg  and  later  attended  the  Western  university,  which  at  that 
time  was  located  in  Pittsburg.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  David 
Reed,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874  and  since  has  continuously 
practiced  in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Boothe  is  a  member  of  all  courts,  has 
a  fine  practice  and  stands  well  among  his  legal  brethren,  as  is 
evidenced  by  his  election  to  the  position  of  treasurer  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  bar  association,  which  office  he  still  holds.     He  was 

1-30 


\ 


466  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

married  in  Salem,  Ohio,  Sept.  14,  1876,  to  Sarah  H.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Clements  and  Emilia  Baelz,  and  they  have  had  four  children: 
Emilia  B.,  Willis,  Clements,  who  died  in  childhood,  and  Sarah 
Hester.  Mr.  Boothe  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Third 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Boothe  is  an  elder.  He  is  a 
republican  in  his  political  views  and,  while  not  a  seeker  for  office, 
yet  holds  the  position  of  president  of  the  school  board  of  the 
twenty-second  ward.  Mr.  Boothe  is  an  able  and  popular  member 
of  the  Allegheny  county  bar,  commands  a  splendid  legal  business 
and  is  highly  esteemed  throughout  the  city  for  his  manly  qualities 
and  strict  integrity. 

WILLIAM  H.  LINSLEY,  mine  super- 
intendent,   was     born    in    Durhamshire, 
England,  Jan.   25,    1856,  son   of   William 
and  Margaret  Linsley.     The  father  was 
^■^3Sl  ^l^\  ■  a   locomotive   engineer   in  England   and 

'       ^„        "  was  killed  in  a  wreck  when  twenty-seven 

■^r*-  years   old,  in    1858.     In   1862    his  widow 

.      .         k  married  William   Robinson,  and   shortly 

^gfl^SL^     ^^^^1^       after  this  came  to  America,  bringing  with 
^^^^^KP^^^^^B        her  her  only  child,  William.     On  coming 
^^^^^kjH^^^^  to  America,  William    Robinson   followed 

^^^^^^^^  for  a  time  his  vocation  as  a  blacksmith  in 

Temperanceville,  now  West  End,  Pitts- 
burg. He  now  resides  in  Carnegie,  where  he  kept  a  grocery  store. 
His  wife  died  July  21,  1902,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Bell)  Henderson,  both  now 
deceased,  and  was  one  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living:  Thomas,  a  resident  of  Spring  Valley,  111. ;  Mrs.  John  Byers, 
of  Mount  Washington ;  John,  who  lives  at  Finleyville,  Washington 
county;  Mrs.  David  Fulton,  of  Castle  Shannon,  Pa.,  and  Launce- 
lot,  also  a  resident  of  Castle  Shannon.  William  H.  Linsley,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  has 
also  recently  completed  a  course  in  mining  at  the  International 
correspondence  school,  Scranton,  Pa.  When  a  young  man  Mr. 
Linsley  worked  five  years  in  a  coal  mine  and  then  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade,  which  he  followed  for  twelve  years,  about  a  year 
of  that  time  being  located  in  Carnegie.  In  1884  he  returned  to  the 
mines  and  was  for  five  years  engaged  in  weighing  coal  at  the  Nixon 
mine,  Chartiers  Valley  coal  company,  and  then  became  mine 
superintendent   and  foreman  at  the  same  mine,  remaining  there 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  467 

until  1899.  At  this  time  the  mine  was  bought  by  the  Pittsburg 
coal  company  and  Mr.  Linsley  remained  as  superintendent  and 
still  holds  that  position.  Besides  this  he  is  superintendent  at  the 
Harrison  mine  and  the  Esser  coal  mine,  making  three  mines  in  all 
under  his  management.  Mr.  Linsley  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  as  a  miner  of  exceptional  ability  and  the  importance  of  the 
trusts  which  he  holds  gives  evidence  of  the  confidence  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  employers.  On  Christmas  day,  1877,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Boden,  daughter  of  David  and  Helen  (Cook) 
Boden,  who  are  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work,  and  has 
eight  children,  viz.  :  Mabel  Irene,  graduate  of  the  Duquesne  busi- 
ness college,  Pittsburg,  class  of  1897,  now  employed  as  clerk  in  the 
delinquent  tax  office,  county  court  house,  Pittsburg;  Nellie  V., 
graduate  of  Curry  college,  Pittsburg,  class  of  1898,  for  the  past 
three  years  clerk  in  her  father's  office;  William  F.,  an  electrician, 
employed  in  one  of  the  mines  of  which  his  father  is  superintendent; 
Richard  E.,  student  at  Duff's  business  college,  Pittsburg;  Robert 
Cook,  attending  graded  schools;  Clara  I.,  Leile  M.  and  Emma 
Eugene.  Mr.  Linsley  takes  an  active  interest  in  republican 
politics.  He  has  for  the  past  three  years  been  school  director  in 
his  township.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Mason,  being  a  member  of 
Centennial  lodge,  No.  544;  Cyrus  chapter,  No.  280,  and  Chartiers 
commandery,  No.  78. 

FRANK  F.  SNEATHEN,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
attorney,  with  offices  at  No.  413  Fourth  Ave.,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg, Oct.  24,  1857,  son  of  John  B.  and  Mary  A.  (Kiefer)  Sneathen. 
John  B.  Sneathen  was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  in  1832,  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  his  parents  having  come  from  Scotland  at  an 
early  date  and  settled  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  John  B.  Sneathen 
came  to  Allegheny  county  when  a  mere  boy,  there  acquired  a 
thorough  education,  and  when  manhood  was  reached,  engaged  in 
the  business  of  a  commission  merchant  and  coal  shipper  on  the 
Ohio  river.  He  was  a  prominent  and  progressive  citizen,  served 
as  a  councilman  from  the  twenty-second  ward  for  sixteen  years,  a 
school  director  for  about  twelve  years,  and  died  on  June  10,  1896. 
His  wife  died  on  June  17,  1877.  Frank  F.  Sneathen  attended  the 
schools  of  the  second  and  twenty-second  wards  of  Pittsburg,  and 
spent  the  years  from  1870  to  1873  at  the  Western  University  of 
Pennsylvania.  Later  he  attended  the  Pennsylvania  military  acad- 
emy at  Chester,  Pa.,  where  he  was  captain  of  Company  A,  of  the 
academy  corps  of  cadets.     He  was  graduated  from  that  institution 


468  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

on  June  21,  1877,  and  spent  the  next  two  years  in  attending  a 
special  law  course  at  Harvard  college.  He  returned  to  Pittsburg 
and  registered  as  a  student  in  the  office  of  Hon.  M.  W.  Atcheson, 
in  July,  1879,  where  he  remained  until  December,  1880,  when  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county.  Mr.  Sneathen  is  a 
member  of  all  courts  and  has  a  fine  practice.  He  is  prominently 
connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  His 
military  record  is  a  splendid  one,  having  served  as  captain  of  Com- 
pany F,  i8th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  from 
1879  to  1881 ;  major  of  that  regiment  from  1881  to  1884;  lieutenant- 
colonel  from  1884  to  1887,  when  he  was  retired  with  that  rank. 
He  was  married  in  Pittsburg,  Jan.  12,  1886,  to  Emma  C,  daughter 
of  George  A.  Kim,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Cora  Marie. 


\^M 


GUSTAVUS  B.  OBEY,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Youghiogheny  and  Monon- 
gahela  division  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake 
Erie  railroad,  with  offices  in  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
May  23,  1865.  He  is  the  elder  of  the  two 
1  ^m^^'   ^^^^m     children  born  to  his  parents,  William  H. 

and  Rachael  R.  (Shaflfer)  Obey,  his 
younger  brother,  Jared  E.  Obey,  being  a 
resident  of  Pittsburg.  His  father,  who 
has  been  deceased  for  several  years,  was 
for  a  long  time  an  officer  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  government,  and 
during  the  Civil  war  was  captain  of  Company  F,  6th  Pennsylvania 
artillery.  Among  the  thousands  of  men  in  the  service  of  the  great 
railway  systems  of  the  country,  there  are  many  who  began  in 
humble  positions  and  worked  their  way  up  to  places  of  trust 
and  responsibility.  Such  a  man  is  Gustavus  B.  Obey.  After 
receiv^ing  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  city 
and  Westminster  college,  located  at  New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  he 
began  his  career  as  a  railroad  man  in  1882  as  assistant  agent  for 
the  Pittsburg  &  Western,  at  Zelienople,  Pa.  About  a  year  later  he 
went  to  Gallery  Junction  as  telegraph  operator,  and  from  there  to 
Allegheny  city,  where  he  remained  until  the  great  Johnstown  flood, 
which  cut  off  railroad  and  telegraph  communication.  Mr.  Obey  was 
sent  to  Foxburg,  Clarion  county,  to  assume  the  management  of  the 
division  from  that  point  until  communication  could  be  reopened. 
His  work  was  so  well  done  that  after  his  return  to  Allegheny  city, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  469 

he  was  appointed  chief  train  dispatcher  and  was  again  located  at 
Foxburg,  that  place  being  decided  on  as  a  more  advantageous  point 
for  the  handling  of  trains  than  Allegheny  city.  During  the 
succeeding  years  he  was  stationed  at  various  points  on  the  lines 
belonging  to  the  Pittsburg  &  Western  system.  Leaving  Foxburg 
he  went  to  New  Castle,  Pa.,  then  he  was  sent  to  Painesville,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  for  about  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  New 
Castle  as  the  chief  train  dispatcher  for  the  main  line  of  the  road. 
Later  he  left  the  Pittsburg  &  Western  and  accepted  a  position 
with  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie.  This  brought  him  to  Pittsburg, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  located.  In  a  short  time  he  became 
the  chief  train  dispatcher  for  that  railroad  company,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1901,  he  was  promoted  to  his  present  position,  with  head- 
quarters in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Obey  is  prominent  in  the  Masonic  cir- 
cles of  Pittsburg,  being  a  member  of  all  the  different  bodies  of 
that  order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Monongahela  club  and  the 
Pittsburg  railway  club.  In  1892,  he  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Matie 
Lee  Hart,  a  highly  accomplished  young  lady  of  Foxburg,  Pa.  The 
wedded  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Obey  has  been  a  happy  one.  He 
resides  at  Coraopolis  in  a  cozy  suburban  home,  where  he  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

ALONZO  N.  McCANN,  accountant  in  the  department  of  public 
safety,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Flemington,  N.  J.,  Sept.  29,  1843, 
was  reared  there  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that  city. 
He  then  engaged  in  business  and  in  September,  1862,  left  a  clerk- 
ship to  enlist  in  the  Union  army  as  a  private  in  Company  F,  22d 
New  Jersey  volunteer  infantry.  Here  he  served  nine  months, 
fighting  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and 
was  then  given  an  honorable  discharge.  Later,  in  August,  1864, 
he  enlisted  in  the  navy  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  as 
ship's  writer  on  the  receiving  ship  "Vermont,"  at  the  Brooklyn 
navy  yard.  After  the  war  he  was  employed  for  about  two  years 
as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store  at  Flemington,  and  then  went  to 
Brooklyn  and  was  engaged  as  a  dry  goods  salesman  in  Brooklyn 
and  New  York  until  1892,  when  he  came  to  Pittsburg.  In  1896 
Mr.  McCann  entered  the  service  of  the  city  under  J.  O.  Brown,  at 
that  time  director  of  public  safety  and  now  recorder,  and  has  been 
accountant  in  the  department  of  public  safety  ever  since.  Mr. 
McCann  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward,  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church. 


470  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

FRANK  B.  DAVIS,  of  Stone  town- 
ship, Pa.,  a  popular  railroad  conductor,  is 
a  native  of  Stone  township  and  the  son 
of  David  and  Margaret  (Burns)  Davis. 
His  father  was  a  saddler  by  trade  but 
during  the  latter  years  of  his  life  devoted 
his  attention  to  gardening,  and  died 
several  years  since.  His  mother  is  now 
sixty-two  years  of  age  and  had  nine  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  are  now  living.  His 
paternal  ancestors  came  from  Wales  and 
his  mother's  progenitors  were  from  the 
Emerald  Isle.  Frank  B.  Davis  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Stone  township  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  then  began  to  earn  his  own  living,  working  at  various 
occupations  until  he  became  a  clerk  for  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie 
railroad.  He  continued  in  that  position  for  two  years  and  a  half 
and  for  the  next  five  years  was  connected  with  the  operating 
department  in  the  capacity  of  brakeman.  In  1898  Mr.  Davis  was 
promoted  to  his  present  position  of  conductor  and  is  now  on  the 
through  freight  of  the  York  division  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie 
railroad.  Mr.  Davis  was  happily  married  to  Helen,  daughter 
of  James  O'Day,  of  McKee's  Rocks,  and  they  have  three  children. 
Mr.  Davis  is  a  republican  in  his  political  convictions,  and  in 
February,  1903,  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Stone  town- 
ship, in  which  position  he  is  making  a  fine  record.  Mr.  Davis 
is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors,  the  Brotherhood 
of  Railway  Trainmen  and  the  Alfaretta  lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  McKee's  Rocks.  He  has  a  pretty  home  in  Stone  town- 
ship and  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  that  community. 

CHARLES  E.  MARTIN,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  rising  young 
attorney,  with  offices  in  the  Park  building,  was  born  at  Pittsburg, 
Jan.  13,  1881,  son  of  James  and  Jennie  (Scott)  Martin,  both 
natives  of  Allegheny  county  and  residents  of  Pittsburg.  Charles 
Martin  was  educated  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Pittsburg, 
graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1899.  Subsequently  he 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Lyon,  McKee  &  Mitchell,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  then  attended  the  Pittsburg  law  school,  graduating  with  the 
class  of  1902.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Oct.  4,  1902;  at  once 
entered  on  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  met  with  great 
encouragement  in  his  vocation.     His  father  was  born  in  Lawrence- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  471 

ville,  Pa.,  and  has  spent  his  life  in  Allegheny  county,  where  he  is 
an  expert  accountant  for  the  Bessemer  &  Lake  Erie  railroad.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Millville,  Pa.,  and  had  four  children,  viz.: 
Walton  W.,  M.  D. ;  Charles  E.,  Nellie,  and  Ralph  (deceased). 
Walton  W.  Martin,  a  physician  and  surgeon,  with  offices  at 
No.  4230  Sherman  St.,  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  that  city  and  edu- 
cated in  the  splendid  schools  of  his  native  town,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  in  1896.  He  studied  medicine  at  the  Western  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  graduated  in  1900,  and  for  the  next  year 
was  resident  physician  for  that  institution.  In  1901  Dr.  Martin 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsburg,  and  has  secured 
a  splendid  standing  among  the  younger  physicians  of  that  city. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Austin  Flint  medical  society,  the  Hallman 
lodge  of  Masons,  and  the  Order  of  Heptasophs. 

R.    H.    RAMAGE,    who   was   a   well- 
^^^^,  known    physician    and    surgeon   of   Car- 

/^^^^^^  negie,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 

^B  Jan.  16,  1843.      His  parents,  William  and 

^  ^S*.     ^  Sarah    (Wilson)    Ramage,  were   born   in 

jl^         M  Washington  county,  and  were  prominent 

J^^%^^  members  of  the  Methodist  church.     Mr. 

%yjHir  Ramage  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was 

Jl§^^^    Ibfcfc.       ^^'^  twenty- five  years  justice  of  the  peace, 
^^H    -'^^     ^^W        ^as  a  school  director,  and  held  several 
^SB  '  other  public  offices.     He  and  his  wife  had 

^^  seven  children  born  to  them,  and  all  are 

living:  Margaret;  Benjamin  F.,  a  West- 
moreland county  farmer;  R.  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Rebecca  J.,  now  Mrs.  Goshorn,  of  Allegheny;  William,  a  mill 
worker  of  Allegheny ;  Mary,  and  John  W. ,  a  farmer  in  Missouri. 
After  receiving  a  common-school  education,  Dr.  R.  H.  Ramage 
read  medicine  under  Dr.  White,  a  prominent  physician  of  his  time, 
and  then  attended  the  Hahnemann  medical  college,  of  Philadel- 
phia. He  next  pursued  his  studies  at  the  Hospital  medical  col- 
lege, at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1872.  After  two  years  of  hospital  experience,  he  began  to 
practice  in  Allegheny,  and  in  December,  1877,  came  to  Mansfield 
(now  Carnegie),  where  he  devoted  his  time  to  a  steadily  increasing 
practice  until  his  death.  Dr.  Ramage  was  of  the  homoeopathic 
school,  and  was  a  well-read  man,  informed  on  all  the  new  dis- 
coveries in  his  profession,   and  thoroughly  abreast  of  the  times. 


472  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

He  had  been  an  occasional  contributor  to  medical  journals.  He 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Carnegie,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  owned  several  properties  in  that  flourishing  city.  Dr. 
Ramage  was  married,  Oct.  20,  1880,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Belton, 
daughter  of  E.  J.  Belton,  of  Pittsburg.  Mrs.  Ramage  died  in 
August,  1901,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  She  was  a  graduate  of 
Pleasant  Hill  seminary,  and  taught  school  several  years  before  her 
marriage  to  Dr.  Ramage.  An  influential  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  a  student  of  rare  attainments,  her  life  was  an 
inspiration  to  the  many  who  knew  her,  and  her  death  brought  sor- 
row to  their  hearts.  Dr.  Ramage  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  having  been  a  member  of  Centennial  lodge. 
No.  504,  and  Cyrus  chapter,  No.  280,  R.  A.  M.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Chartiers  commandery.  No.  78,  Knights  Templars.  In 
politics  Dr.  Ramage  was  a  republican. 

HENRY  L.  KING,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney,  was 
born  in  that  city,  Sept.  20,  1858,  son  of  Henry  A,  and  Annie  E. 
(Wenzel)  King,  both  surviving  and  now  residing  near  Greensburg, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.  The  King  family  is  of  English  origin,  but 
later  settled  in  Rhine  province,  Germany,  this  settlement  having 
been  made  by  the  great-grandfather  of  Henry  L.,  Job  King,  of 
Wolverhampton,  England.  The  Wenzel  family  is  of  German 
origin,  both  of  Mr.  King's  parents  being  born  in  that  country  and 
accompanying  their  respective  parents  to  the  United  States,  set- 
tling at  Pittsburg  in  1846.  There  his  father  learned  the  trade  of 
glass-blowing  and  was  so  engaged  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to 
his  present  home  and  since  has  devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  Henry  L.  King  was  educated  in  the  splendid  public 
schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  at  the  branch  normal  school  at  Greens- 
burg, taught  school  for  five  years  in  Westmoreland  county, 
attended  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  and 
was  there  graduated  in  the  class  of  1885.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1885,  came  to  Pittsburg  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  city  on  Dec.  23,  1885.  Since  then  Mr. 
King  has  been  in  continuous  practice,  is  a  member  of  all  courts 
and  devotes  his  attention  to  civil,  building  and  loan  and  corpo- 
ration business.  He  has  met  with  unusual  success  and  stands 
high  among  his  confreres.  Mr.  King  was  married,  in  October, 
1891,  to  Rose  S.  King,  and  they  have  three  children:  Sylvia  A., 
Mignonette  L.  and  Ruth  E.  He  intends  to  remain  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  which  is  the  industrial  center  of  the  United  States. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  473 

JOHN  A.  McCLARIN,  of  Tarentum, 
Pa.,  a  successful  truck  farmer,  was  born 
in  Beaver  county,  Oct.  27,  1825,  son  of 
William  and  Jane  (Cork)  McClarin,  both 
natives  of  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to 
Canada  in  1815,  later  located  in  Beaver 
county.  Pa.,  and  in  1840  settled  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  where  they  resided  until 
their  deaths  in  1886  and  1882,  respect- 
ively. They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living 
and  are:  John  A.  and  Sarah  J.  William 
McClarin  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  a  lead- 
ing democrat,  and  held  the  positions  of  supervisor,  assessor  and 
school  director.  John  A.  McClarin  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
received  his  educational  training  in  the  common  schools,  and  has 
lived  on  the  farm  he  owns  for  seven  years.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  truck  and  small  fruits,  and  his  labors  and  industry  have  been 
crowned  with  much  success.  In  political  matters  he  is  a  democrat, 
though  in  local  matters  he  looks  more  to  the  man  than  to  the  party. 
He  served  as  a  school  director  for  four  years,  and  is  well  known 
and  popular  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides.  Sarah  J.,  the 
only  surviving  sister  of  John  A.  McClarin,  was  born  in  1835,  and 
subsequently  married  Amos  Boyd,  a  glass-worker,  who  met  his 
death  in  1862  at  Ball's  Bluff,  while  serving  in  the  Union  army. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyd  had  three  children:  James,  of  Beaver  county ; 
William,  of  Westmoreland  county,  and  Mary  J.,  who  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  married  Walter  Grove,  of  Venango  county, 
and  is  the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Elmer  E.  (deceased). 
Earl  and  Edwin  J. 

SYLVESTER  J.  SNEE,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  well-known 
attorney-at-law,  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  July  8,  1876,  son  of  John  W.  and  Margaret  (Huffman)  Snee, 
both  natives  of  Jefferson  township,  where  they  have  spent  their 
entire  lives,  with  the  exception  of  two  years.  His  father  was  a 
successful  farmer  for  many  years,  but  has  now  retired  from  active 
participation  in  agricultural  matters,  and  is  spending  the  declin- 
ing years  of  his  life  in  comfort  and  ease  at  his  home  in  Jefferson 
township.  Mr.  Snee's  ancestors  are  of  Irish  extraction,  and  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Jefferson  township,  where  they 
enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteem  due  to  honorable  and  upright  peo- 


474  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

pie.  Sylvester  J.  Snee  was  educated  in  the  Duquesne  college, 
Pittsburg,  and  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  college,  Washington, 
Pa.  ;  is  a  graduate  of  both  institutions,  and  received  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  science  from  Washington  and  Jefferson  college.  Mr. 
Snee  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  George  B.  Guffy,  of  Pittsburg; 
later  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Western  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1902.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September  of  that  year,  entered  on  the 
practice  at  once,  and  has  since  met  with  much  encouragement  in 
his  professional  career.  Mr.  Snee  is  a  young  man  of  ability  and 
integrity,  well-read  in  the  law,  and  has  a  bright  future  before  him 
as  an  advocate  and  counselor. 

WILLIAM  A.  ARNOLD,  M.  D.,  of 
Tarentum,  Pa.,  a  well-known  physician 
and  surgeon,  was  born  in  that  city,  March 
28,  1869.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Mahaffey)  Arnold,  the  former 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  the  latter 
born  in  Allegheny  city.  Pa.  The  par- 
ents of  George  Arnold  were  John  and 
Katherine  (Whiting)  Arnold,  both  natives 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in 
1838,  settling  in  Butler  county,  where 
they  resided  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  Dr.  Arnold 
were  James  and  Catherine  Mahaffey,  who  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Allegheny  county.  James  Mahaffey  was  born  in  1793; 
Catherine,  his  wife,  in  1794,  and  both  died  in  West  Deer  township 
in  1 85 1.  The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Arnold,  James 
Burns,  was  an  early  settler  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  an  officer  in 
the  Revolution.  George  Arnold,  the  father  of  Dr.  Arnold,  was 
born  Feb.  2,  1824,  reared  on  a  farm,  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  In  1842  he  came  to  Tarentum,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death  in  May,  1889.  He  was  a  whig,  and  later  a  republican,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Dr.  Arnold  was  reared  in  Tarentum,  graduated  from  the  schools  of 
that  city,  and  in  1901  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department 
of  the  Western  university,  and  has  since  practiced  medicine  with 
much  success  in  his  native  city.  Prior  to  studying  medicine,  he 
was  employed  by  the  Flocus  glass  company,  of  Tarentum;  rose  to 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  475 

be  general  manager  of  that  concern,  and  occupied  that  position 
when  he  retired  from  commercial  life  to  study  for  his  professional 
career.  Dr.  Arnold  has  taken  a  prominent  stand  among  the 
physicians  of  Tarentum,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county 
medical  society  and  of  the  Allegheny  valley  medical  association. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics.  He  was  married,  on  Dec.  8,  1897,  to  Julia  E. 
Enrich,  daughter  of  a  prominent  merchant,  now  deceased,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  daughters:  Amarillo  and  Elizabeth.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Arnold  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  prominent 
in  social  and  religious  circles  of  Tarentum. 

WILLIAM  MORGAN  WATSON,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  distin- 
guished attorney-at-law,  was  born  in  Washington,  Pa.,  April  3, 
1855,  son  of  James  and  Maria  Woodbridge  (Morgan)  Watson.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Aldrich)  Morgan 
and  her  father  a  son  of  Col.  George  Morgan,  who  was  Indian  agent 
at  Pittsburg  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the 
builder  of  the  first  shingle-roof  houscin  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and 
who  later  removed  to  what  is  now  Morganza,  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  spent  the  remaining  days  of  his  life.  It  was  at  the  old 
homestead  at  Morganza  that  Aaron  Burr  called  to  visit  the  great- 
grandfather of  William  M.  Watson  in  1803  or  1804,  Burr  being  an 
old  acquaintance  of  the  Morgans  in  Philadelphia  and  Princeton, 
and  while  on  this  visit  disclosed  enough  of  his  scheme  to  convince 
Colonel  Morgan  that  he  was  guilty  of  treason  and  contemplated 
serious  harm  to  the  government.  Acting  on  this  information. 
Colonel  Morgan  despatched  his  two  sons  to  Washington  city  to 
inform  President  Jefferson  of  Burr's  intentions,  which  was  the  first 
information  the  president  had  of  this  contemplated  action.  The 
rest  of  the  Burr  case  is  too  well  known  to  be  repeated  here  and 
Colonel  Morgan's  part  in  the  affair  is  fully  described  in  James 
Parton's  life  of  Burr.  Colonel  Morgan  was  a  brother  of  Dr.  John 
Morgan,  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  a  famous  physician  and  the  first 
surgeon-general  of  the  United  States,  holding  that  position  under 
Washington's  administration.  Mr.  Watson's  father  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Miller)  Watson  and  his  great-grandfather,  James 
Watson,  is  said  by  family  tradition  to  have  been  a  colonel  in  the 
patriot  army  during  the  American  Revolution.  Mr.  Watson's 
father  was  a  prominent  attorney-at-law  and  was  in  continuous 
practice  at  Washington,  Pa.,  from  1831  to  1875,  a  period  of  forty- 
four  years.      He  was  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 


476  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

for  Washington  and  Greene  counties  but  refused  to  serve,  much  to 
the  regret  of  the  attorneys  of  that  section.  His  parents  had  ten 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  George  Morgan,  a  banker 
of  Pittsburg,  died  in  1882,  and  the  others  are:  Eh"zabeth  T.  ;  Mary 
B.,  widow  of  Rev.  Alexander  Reed;  Jane  G.  ;  David  T. ;  Matilda  W. , 
wife  of  Maj.  Andrew  G.  Happer;  James,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
New  York  city,  and  William  Morgan.  William  Morgan  Watson 
was  graduated  from  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  college  in  1875; 
later  was  graduated  from  Harvard  law  school  and  in  1879  admitted 
to  the  bar.  Since  that  time  he  has  practiced  his  profession  with 
unvarying  success  and  is  a  member  of  all  the  local  courts  and  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Watson  was  married  in 
Pittsburg,  in  April,  1884,  to  Sarah  Ormsby,  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Ormsby)  McKnight,  and  a  member  of  a  prominent 
colonial  family.  They  have  two  children:  Ormsby  Morgan  and 
Maria  Morgan.  Mr.  Watson  has  always  been  a  republican  but  is 
in  no  sense  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  to 
the  profession  in  which  he  has  made  such  a  success.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Watson  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  reside  at 
Swissvale. 

GEORGE  H.  QUAILL,  the  great- 
grandson  of  Robert  Quaill,  an  ancestor 
who  is  mentioned  on  page  358,  Vol.  II,  of 
this  work,  is  a  prominent  lawyer  of  the  city 
of  Pittsburg,  and  resides  in  the  borough  of 
Bellevue.  He  was  born  in  the  old  ances- 
tral homestead  on  the  farm  in  Ross  town- 
ship, on  Feb.  23,  1855.  His  father  was 
David  R.  Quaill,  who  is  still  living  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-five  years,  and 
his  mother  was  Sarah  J,  Shafer,  a  sister 
of  Noah  W.  Shafer,  a  well-known  and 
distinguished  member  of  the  Pittsburg 
bar.  For  several  generations  George  seems  to  have  been  a  favor- 
ite name  in  the  Quaill  family.  This  George  obtained  his  educa- 
tion, until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  where  he  was  born,  then  spent  two  years  at  a  busi- 
ness college  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  after  which  he  finished  his 
education  at  the  Pennsylvania  state  normal  school,  at  Millersville, 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  graduated  in  1873.  Always  a  good 
student,  he  stood  among  the  best  in  his  classes  and  graduated  with 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  477 

distinction.  He  taught  school  two  years,  then  read  law  with  his 
uncle  above  mentioned  and  was  admitted  to  the  Pittsburg  bar  on 
Feb.  23,  1878,  where  he  at  once  took  a  prominent  place  as  a  general 
practitioner.  As  an  indefatigable  worker  he  has  no  peer,  and  his 
genial  manners  and  strict  adherence  to  business,  coupled  with  his 
unswerving  fidelity  to  his  clients'  interests,  have  secured  for  him  a 
permanent  and  substantial  clientage.  This  busy  attorney,  how- 
ever, finds  time  for  making  himself  useful  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  He  has  always  been  prominent  in  church  circles. 
As  a  member  of  the  Bellevue  Methodist  Episcopal  church  he  has 
been  honored  in  turn  with  every  office  the  church  had  at  its  dis- 
posal. He  has  been  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  He  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday- 
school  and  is  at  his  best  when  he  is  standing  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  Bible  class.  He  is  also  prominent  in  lodge  circles,  being  a 
past  master  of  Bellevue  lodge,  No.  530,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  For  ten  years  he  was  an  instructor  in  the  Pittsburg 
school  of  Masonic  instruction,  and  in  1900,  as  a  reward  for  his  serv- 
ices to  the  craft,  he  was  honored  with  the  appointment  as  district 
deputy  grand  master  for  this  Masonic  district,  a  position  which  he 
still  holds.  He  is  famous  as  an  after-dinner  speaker,  and  his 
responses  to  toasts  at  Masonic  banquets  have  won  for  him  applause 
on  many  occasions  and  caused  his  brethren  to  speak  of  him  as  the 
Chauncey  Depew  of  Bellevue  lodge.  But  the  place  where  this 
man  is  seen  at  his  best  is  in  his  home,  which  he  lias  enriched  with 
the  literature  of  the  world  and  embellished  with  the  beauties  of 
art.  He  has  gathered  together,  year  after  year,  from  the  standard 
authors  and  recent  productions,  as  they  have  appeared,  history, 
biography,  theology,  fiction,  poetry,  science  and  general  literature, 
until  he  has  now  the  finest  private  library  in  the  town.  He 
believes  that  the  refining  and  educating  influence  of  books  and 
pictures  in  the  home  amply  repays  for  all  the  expenditures  made 
in  this  direction.  His  love  of  learning  he  gets  from  his  mother, 
who  was  a  gentle,  ambitious  and  delicately-organized  woman  of 
culture  and  refinement,  but  who  did  not  live  to  see  the  professional, 
social  and  business  triumphs  of  her  son,  of  which  she  had  so  fondly 
dreamed,  and  to  fit  and  prepare  him  to  accomplish  which,  she  had 
made  so  many  sacrifices.  In  1881  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  to  Miss  Mattie  L.  Bruce,  of  Beaver  county.  Pa.,  who,  with 
his  three  children — Roberta,  David  Harper  and  Martha  V.  Quaill — 
enjoys  with  him  the  luxuries  of  a  beautiful  home  on  Howard 
avenue,  Bellevue. 


478  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

ROBERT  STEPHEN  MARTIN,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  legal  profession  of  that  city,  with  offices 
at  No.  426  Diamond  St.,  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Armstrong 
Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  9,  1854,  and  is  descended  from  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
tors, who  settled  in  Pennsylvania  shortly  after  1820.  Mr.  Martin 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  Dayton  academy, 
then  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Eastern  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1878.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Armstrong  county.  Pa.,  in  January, 
1879,  and  served  as  district  attorney  of  that  county  from  1883  to 
1886.  Mr.  Martin  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in 
July,  1888,  and  since  that  time  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  a 
general  practice  at  Pittsburg. 

WILLIAM  HILL,  superintendent  of 
the  Allegheny  workhouse  and  president 
of  the  First  National  bank  of  Carnegie, 
was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  Dec, 
3,  1837.  His  parents,  David  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dixon)  Hill,  came  to  America  in 
1 841,  and  located  in  Allegheny  county, 
near  Carnegie,  where  Mr.  Hill,  who  had 
been  a  schoolmaster  in  Ireland,  continued 
his  occupation  as  school-teacher  for  a 
time.  Later  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
farming  and  continued  at  that  occupation 
until  he  moved  to  Carnegie,  where  he 
died  a  year  afterwards  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  William  Hill,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  oldest  of  four  children.  Margaret  died 
in  February,  1902,  when  about  sixty-two  years  old;  Elizabeth,  now 
living  in  Carnegie,  married  David  Given,  who  died  in  1885,  and 
Ellen  is  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Ewing,  and  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
William  Hill  received  a  common-school  education  and  then  spent 
several  years  as  a  farmer.  In  1876  he  gave  up  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  started  the  first  brick  and  lumber  business  at  Carnegie, 
and  was  engaged  in  this  business  for  several  years.  He  was  justice 
of  the  peace  for  fifteen  years,  and  resigned  in  1876,  when  he 
became  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  serving  in  this  capacity 
in  the  sessions  between  1876  and  1879.  After  this  he  was  mer- 
cantile appraiser  for  a  year,  and  later  served  one  three-year  term 
as  county  treasurer.  In  1886  Mr.  Hill  first  became  connected  with 
the  county  workhouse,  and  has  for  the  past  sixteen  years  been  an 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  47» 

influential  member  of  the  workhouse  board.  Since  1891  he  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  workhouse,  and  his  long  and  efficient 
service  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  success  and  usefulness 
of  that  institution.  He  has  served  several  terms  as  school  director, 
and  was  the  first  burgess  of  Carnegie,  serving  in  that  capacity 
three  terms.  He  is  now  chairman  of  the  Carnegie  library  com- 
mission. Mr.  Hill  was  a  director  of  the  old  Mechanics'  National 
bank  of  Pittsburg  for  several  years,  before  that  institution  was 
superseded  by  the  First  National  bank  of  Pittsburg,  and  has  been 
president  of  the  First  National  bank  of  Carnegie  since  1895. 
Before  coming  to  Carnegie  in  1896,  Mr.  Hill  resided  for  several 
years  in  Clermont,  Pa.  He  is  now  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  citizens  of  Carnegie,  and  is  universally  respected  by  all 
who  know  him.  On  June  15,  1887,  Mr.  Hill  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Boyd,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (Walker)  Boyd,  of  Walker's 
Mills,  both  of  whom  are  now  dead.  His  youngest  child,  Boyd  D., 
died  in  1895,  when  three  years  old,  and  two  others  are  living:  Jane 
Boyd  and  William  D.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  Mr.  Hill  has  been  actively 
interested  for  thirty  years.  During  this  time  he  has  held  many 
offices  of  responsibility,  serving  as  trustee,  church  treasurer, 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  and  in  other  capacities.  He 
has  been  active  in  the  construction  of  three  churches,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  which  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the 
last  church. 

JAMES  R.  TREACY,  bottler,  was  born  in  the  first  ward,  Pitts- 
burg, Nov.  12,  1863,  and  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
that  city.  After  receiving  a  primary  education  in  Pittsburg,  he 
spent  two  years,  1880-82,  at  St.  Francis'  college  at  Loretto,  Pa., 
and  then  became  clerk  in  a  queensware  store  in  Pittsburg, 
remaining  in  this  position  about  seven  years.  After  this  he  spent 
a  year  in  the  employ  of  a  Pittsburg  brokerage  firm,  and  in  1895 
was  appointed  Chinese  inspector,  by  John  G.  Carlisle.  In  the 
performance  of  the  duties  of  this  position  he  spent  six  months  in 
Minneapolis  and  a  similar  period  in  Grand  Forks,  N.  D.,  and  then, 
on  Nov.  I,  1896,  resigned  and  returned  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  has 
since  engaged  successfully  in  the  bottle  business.  Although  not 
actively  interested  in  politics,  Mr.  Treacy  believes  in  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  democratic  party,  and  formerly  served  for  four 
years  as  school  director  from  the  first  ward.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Elks  and  in  religious  belief  is  a  Catholic. 


480  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

THOMAS  McDERMOTT,  of  Glen- 
field,  Pa.,  a  prominent  citizen  and  for 
years  a  skilled  engineer,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Feb.  15,  1846,  son 
of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Hanlon)  McDer- 
mott,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  his  father 
having  been  born  in  the  parish  of  Kallala, 
County  Mayo,  and  his  mother  in  the 
parish  of  Kellavey,  County  Armagh.  His 
father  was  a  son  of  Paul  and  Mary  McDer- 
mott  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1845,  settled  in  Pittsburg  and  there 
worked  as  a  laborer.  Subsequently  he 
drifted  into  the  scrap-iron  business,  beginning  on  a  small  scale, 
and  by  thrift,  energy  and  economy  built  up  the  largest  business  of 
that  nature  in  Pittsburg.  He  died  when  only  fifty-three  years  of 
age  and  left  a  fortune  of  more  than  $100,000,  a  splendid  tribute 
to  his  successful  methods  and  financial  ability.  The  mother  of  the 
subject  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Hanlon,  of  Kellavey,  County 
Armagh,  Ireland,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  community, 
in  which  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  entire  lives.  Thomas 
McDermott  was  educated  in  the  Catholic  schools  of  his  native 
city,  baptized  at  St.  Paul's  cathedral  and  for  more  than  twenty 
years  was  a  prominent  engineer,  but  is  now  living  quietly  at 
Glenfield,  where  he  has  a  magnificent  residence  overlooking  the 
beautiful  Ohio  river. 

JOHN  M.  RUSSELL,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  practicing  attorney, 
was  born  in  Washington  county.  Pa.,  Dec.  7,  1872,  son  of 
William  S.  and  Mary  (McBride)  Russell.  He  was  educated  in  the 
rudimentary  courses  in  the  public  schools,  later  attended  the  Union 
academy,  of  Burgettstown,  and  other  educational  institutions  in 
Washington  county,  graduating  from  the  Washington  and  Jefferson 
college  in  1899.  He  then  devoted  his  attention  to  reading  law  in 
the  offices  of  Davidson  &  Galbraith,  well-known  attorneys  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  subsequently  matriculated  at  the  Pittsburg  law  school, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1902.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Pittsburg  in  the  December  after  his  graduation, 
immediately  entered  on  the  practice,  and  is  meeting  with  much 
encouragement  and  success  in  his  vocation.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  young 
man  of  fine  parts,  with  good  mental  equipment  and  in  many  ways 
qualified  to  make  a  complete  success  of  his  professional  career. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  481 

JOSEPH  E.  McCABE,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Pennsylvania  silica  brick 
manufacturing  company,  at  Latrobe,  was 
born  in  Woodvalle,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa  , 
Sept,  17,  1S61,  in  the  house  in  which  he 
now  resides.  His  parents,  Thompson  F, 
and  Mary  J.  (Richardson)  McCabe,  were 
natives  and  old  residents  of  Allegheny 
county,  where  the  father  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  prominent  in  educational 
affairs,  being  a  school  director  many 
years.  He  was  also  a  charter  member  of 
the  Carnegie  Presbyterian  church  and 
afterwards  one  of  its  trustees.  He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  E.  and 
Margaret  (Fife)  McCabe.  Three  of  the  sisters  of  Thompson  F. 
McCabe  are  now  living,  all  over  eighty  years  old,  and  all  widows. 
They  are:  Mrs.  John  Anderson,  of  Ohio;  Mrs.  Levi  Brenniman,  of 
St.  Louis,  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Coulter,  of  Pittsburg.  Mr.  McCabe's  wife, 
Mary  Jane  (Richardson)  McCabe,  was  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Nancy  Richardson,  both  of  whom  died  in  185 1,  when  Mary  Jane 
was  about  sixteen  years  old.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  James 
and  Nancy  Richardson,  only  two  survive.  Henry  Richardson,  an 
old  soldier  who  fought  all  through  the  Civil  war,  is  now  a  prominent 
farmer  in  Kansas  and  owns  about  800  acres  of  land,  devoted  to 
wheat,  and  Nancy  A.  is  now  the  wife  of  William  T.  Easton,  of 
East  End,  Pittsburg.  Joseph  McCabe,  the  subject  of  this  article, 
is  one  of  five  children.  The  others  are:  L.  Howard,  of  Allegheny, 
who  married  Alice  J.  Hultz  and  has  two  children,  Alice  Gertrude 
and  Howard;  Margaret  M.,  now  Mrs.  J.  Cubbage;  Jennie  M.,  who 
was  born  Sept.  25,  1857,  and  died  Oct.  3,  1898,  and  Elizabeth,  now 
Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Hogan,  of  Green  Tree  borough,  who  has  twins, 
Norman  R.  and  Dorothy  S.  Joseph  E.  McCabe  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  then  farmed  the  family  farm  until  the 
property  was  sold  in  1901.  He  owns  considerable  desirable  property 
in  Heidelberg,  and  the  old  McCabe  homestead  of  about  twenty-five 
acres,  which  will,  with  the  growth  of  Carnegie,  soon  be  within  the 
city  limits  and  be  very  valuable.  The  brick  company,  in  which 
he  is  a  stockholder,  is  an  enterprising  concern  and  the  business  bids 
fair  to  be  most  successful.  Mr.  McCabe  has  been  for  ten  years  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  is  nOw  serving  his  second  term  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  married,  on  March  27,  1892,  to  Miss 
Bessie  Holland,  a  native  of  this  county,  and  daughter  of  Enoch  and 

1-31 


482  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Harriet  Holland.  Mr.  Holland,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  is  now 
employed  as  a  bookkeeper  at  the  county  home.  Mrs.  McCabe  is 
one  of  eight  children.  Of  the  others,  Anna  is  now  Mrs.  Frank 
Osborne,  of  Allegheny  county;  Izetta  died  when  twenty-one  years 
old;  Harriet  married  E.  G.  Ott,  a  druggist  in  Carnegie;  Reed  lives 
in  St.  Louis;  Adda  died  when  two  years  old;  Roberta  is  at  home, 
and  Florence  died  when  a  year  and  a  half  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCabe  are  the  parents  of  four  children :  Marguerite,  Walter 
Holland,  Richard  Fife  and  Joseph  Ellsworth.  Mr.  McCabe  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

JOHN  N.  RADCLTFFE,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prosperous 
lawyer,  with  offices  at  No.  413  Grant  St.,  was  born  in  Banks  town- 
ship, Indiana  Co.,  Pa,,  March  8,  1867,  son  of  James  and  Annie 
(Nealen)  Radclifife,  the  former  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 
Nov.  21,  1831,  and  the  latter  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  in  1844. 
His  father  came  to  America  in  1847,  and  has  since  been  a  continu- 
ous resident  of  Indiana  county,  Pa.,  where  he  has  prospered  as  a 
farmer.  During  the  Civil  war  James  Radcliffe  served  the  federal 
government  as  a  superintendent  of  transportation,  having  expe- 
rienced former  service  as  a  wagon-master.  Both  parents  of  the 
subject  are  now  living,  reside  on  their  farm  in  Indiana  county,  and 
have  the  following  children:  Samuel  D.,  a  grocery  merchant  of 
Kansas;  John  N.  ;  Mary  B.,  wife  of  Henry  Gorman,  of  Banks  town- 
ship, Indiana  county;  Margaret  J.,  Edith  E.  ;  James  L.,  with  the 
Santa  Fe  railroad  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Cora,  Olive  and  Ralph 
(twins),  William  H.,  Lola  D.,  Valier  G.  and  Glenn  D.  John  N. 
Radcliffe  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county 
and  at  the  Indiana  normal  school,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1890, 
with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  Prior  to  this,  Mr.  Radcliffe 
had  engaged  in  teaching  in  Banks  township,  and  in  1890  was 
elected  principal  of  West  Elizabeth  schools,  in  Allegheny  county, 
and  for  four  years  filled  that  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  entire 
community.  In  1894  he  registered  as  a  student  of  law  in  the  office 
of  the  late  Judge  Fetterman,  of  Pittsburg,  and  in  March,  1896,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Pittsburg,  where  he  is  now  a  member  of  all 
courts  and  has  a  fine  practice.  He  is  a  school  director  and  member 
of  the  school  board  of  West  Elizabeth,  where  he  resides,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  bettering  of  educational  methods.  He  was 
married  in  Pittsburg,  March  20,  1892,  to  Emma  Snee,  and  to  them 
have  been  born   two  children:   Leona   M.,  on  June   17,  1893,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  483 

John  N.,  Jr.,  on  Feb.  12,  1895.  Mr.  Radcliffe  and  family  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  West  Elizabeth.  Ralph  Radcliffe,  a 
brother  of  the  subject,  was  born  and  reared  in  Banks  township, 
Indiana  county,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the 
Indiana  normal  school.  He  began  teaching  when  only  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in  that  pro- 
fession. During  the  years  of  1902-03  he  taught  in  the  Blairsville, 
Pa.,  public  school,  and  in  June,  1903,  was  elected  principal  of  the 
Elliott  school  of  the  West  End  of  Pittsburg,  a  decided  compliment 
and  one  well  deserved  by  this  worthy  young  man.' 

GEORGE  W.  BEALE,  a  successful 
farmer  and  prominent  citizen  of  Natrona, 
was  born  in  Harrison  township,  Alle- 
gheny county,  on  April  18,  1855,  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns.  He  is  a  son  of  Wash- 
ington Beale,  Jr.,  and  Rosanna  (McCune) 
Beale.  The  grandfather,  Washington 
Beale,  Sr.,  and  two  brothers,  John  and 
Albion,  came  from  Tuscarora  valley, 
Juniata  county,  in  the  year  1801,  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Alle- 
gheny county.  They  located  first  on 
Jack's  island,  and  then  after  a  time  moved 
over  the  river  on  a  farm  near  Bull  creek,  buying  in  the  following 
year  the  farm  known  as  the  Sam  C.  Alter  farm.  To  Washington 
and  Jane  (Given)  Beale  were  born  the  following  children: 
Elizabeth,  Margaret,  James,  Priscilla,  Sarah,  Washington, 
Alexandra,  Thomas,  Hannah  and  Nancy.  To  Washington  Beale, 
Jr.,  and  Rosanna  (McCune)  Beale,  of  Greensburg,  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Joseph  G.,  Jane  E.,  Mary  J.,  James  B., 
Margaret  M.,  George  W.  and  Sarah  Agnes.  Mr.  Beale  was  a  very 
successful  farmer,  and  conducted  the  occupation  on  large  scale.  In 
1857  he  made  his  first  trip  to  England  after  horses,  and  was  the 
first  importer  of  heavy  draft  horses  in  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  four 
head  with  which  he  started  for  America,  two  were  lost  in  a  storm, 
but  though  unfortunate  in  his  first  venture,  he  did  not  give  up, 
but  made  three  trips  afterwards  with  better  success.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1885,  he  owned  several  large  farms,  was  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Leechburg  steel  mills,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Free- 
port  National  bank,  of  which  he  was  also  a  director.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Freeport  Presbyterian  church.     George  W. 


484  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Beale  was  reared  on  the  farm,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
has  followed  the  vocation  of  farming-  all  of  his  active  life.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  the  raising  of  fine  horses  and  cattle,  making  a 
specialty  of  imported  English  horses  and  Alderney  cattle.  Mr. 
Beale  owns  the  old  homestead  of  133  acres,  and  has  forty  acres  on 
the  bank  of  the  Allegheny  river,  where  he  resides  in  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  Harrison  township.  Mr.  Beale  was  born  and 
raised  a  republican,  imbibed  the  tenets  of  that  party  early  in  life, 
and  is  an  active  and  ardent  worker  for  the  advancement  of  its  prin- 
ciples. He  has  been  school  director  for  eight  years,  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  commissioners  for  Harrison  township,  in  which 
latter  position  he  is  serving  his  second  term.  Mr.  Beale  is  also 
interested  in  stone-quarrying,  and  owns  and  operates  a  fine  quarry 
which  is  situated  about  one  mile  from  Natrona.  He  was  married, 
on  Nov.  22,  1877,  to  Zelia  E.  Harrison,  of  East  End,  Pittsburg, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Martha  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  public 
schools  and  Blairsville  academy.  Mr.  Beale  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  unimpeachable  integrity,  and  is  regarded  with  the 
highest  esteem  by  all  who  have  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance. 

JOHN  A.  WILSON,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  long  identified  with  the 
practice  of  law  in  that  city,  was  born  at  New  Brighton,  Beaver  Co., 
Pa,,  Nov.  2,  1843,  son  of  James  Perry  and  Nancy  W.  (Sullivan) 
Wilson.  His  father  was  a  son  of  John  and  Efiie  (Bryan)  Wilson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland,  who,  when  three  years  of  age, 
accompanied  his  parents  to  America  and  settled  in  Allegheny 
county,  where  his  parents  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  as  did 
their  son,  John,  in  later  years.  Effie  Bryan,  the  grandmother  of 
John  A.  Wilson,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county  and  there  spent  her 
entire  life.  James  Perry  Wilson,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  at  the  corner  of  Penn  avenue  and  Third  street, 
Pittsburg,  June  12,  1820;  was  a  successful  carriage-builder  of  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  spent  his  entire  life  and  there  died  on  Nov.  11, 
1886.  His  wife,  Nancy  W.  Sullivan,  was  born  on  Eleventh  street, 
South  Side,  Pittsburg,  Dec.  i,  1822,  and  now  resides  at  Avalon, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  John  A.  Wilson  acquired  his  rudimentary 
education  in  the  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  completed  his  classical 
training  at  the  Western  university,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
on  June  24,  1864.  In  November,  1865,  he  registered  as  a  law 
student  with  Marcus  A,  Woodward,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Pitts- 
burg; was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Nov.  6,  1867,  and  has  since  con- 
tinuously practiced  in    Pittsburg,   where   he  is  a  member  of  all 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  485 

courts  and  has  a  fair  practice.  Mr.  Wilson  was  married  in  the 
Fourth  Avenue  Baptist  church  of  Pittsburg,  April  2,  1868,  to 
Bella  J.,  daughter  of  ex-Mayor  George  Wilson  and  his  wife,  Mary 
F.  (Howey)  Wilson,  and  to  them  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: George  P.,  on  June  8,  1870;  John  A.,  on  April  27,  1874,  and 
Ruth,  on  Nov.  2,  1882.  Mr.  Wilson's  family  are  members  of  the 
Shady  Side  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg.  George  P.  Wilson, 
his  eldest  son,  a  rising  attorney,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  rudimentary  courses  in  the  fourteenth  ward  and  the 
high  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  later  attended  Harvard  uni- 
versity, where  he  was  graduated  in  1893,  with  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  arts.  He  then  read  law  in  the  ofHce  of  his  father,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  March  19,  1898,  and  has  since  practiced  with 
much  success. 

FINLEY  ROSS  CUNNINGHAM,  a 
substantial  and  worthy  tiller  of  the  soil, 
resides  on  a  farm  in  West  Deer  township 
which  has  been  in  possession  of  his  family 
for  fully  a  hundred  years.  The  first 
owner  was  his  grandfather,  Hughey 
Cunningham,  who  came  there  from 
Ireland  at  a  very  remote  period  and  took 
up  his  abode  on  raw  land  in  a  sparsely 
settled  neighborhood.  The  wife  of  this 
old  emigrant,  whom  he  married  in  Ire- 
land, bore  the  name  of  Nancy,  and  the 
couple  passed  all  their  years  cultivating 
the  land  and  improving  it  for  the  benefit  of  their  descendants. 
Their  son,  Robert,  who  was  born  in  1806,  married  Eliza  Ross,  of 
Westmoreland  county,  and  they  inherited  and  carried  on  the  home- 
stead place  after  the  death  of  the  original  owners.  Robert  Cunning- 
ham became  a  successful  farmer  and  was  much  esteemed  in  his  com- 
munity, holding  the  ofiice  of  road  commissioner  for  some  years  and 
otherwise  sharing  in  the  public  life  of  the  community.  Originally 
a  democrat,  he  joined  the  republican  party  at  its  organization,  and 
both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.  He  died  in  1893  and  his  wife  some  years  later,  after 
becoming  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  three  daughters 
and  one  son  survive.  Two  sons,  Hugh  and  Robert,  gave  up  their 
lives  for  their  country  during  the  terrible  days  of  the  Civil  war.  . 
Finley    Ross    Cunningham,    the   only   son    now   surviving   of   the 


486  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

above-mentioned'  family,  was  born  in  West  Deer  township,  Alle- 
gheny county.  Pa.,  Jan.  23,  1846.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  and  after  the  latter's  death  inherited  the  place,  to  which 
he  has  since  added  forty-four  acres,  making  his  entire  holdings  1 76 
acres  of  excellent  farming  land.  He  has  not  only  preserved  his 
inheritance,  but  has  cultivated  the  patrimonial  acres  with  such  skill 
and  judgment  as  to  greatly  improve  them  in  every  respect.  He 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  and  keeps  many  cows 
from  which  he  markets  milk  and  butter.  Like  his  father,  he  has 
adhered  to  the  fortunes  of  the  republican  party  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  held  the  office  of  assessor.  Mr.  Cunningham  is  the 
father  of  seven  children:  Mary  E.,  Lida,  Harley  R.,  Courtland  K., 
Hughey  M.,  Geneva  and  Edna  A.  The  parents  were  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Cunningham  died  Jan.  14, 
1901. 

JOSEPH  P.  FIFE,  ot  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prosperous  attorney-at- 
law,  with  offices  at  No.  12 19  Frick  building,  was  born  at  Sterling, 
111.,  June  15,  1875,  son  of  W.  H.  G.  and  Mary  E.  Fife,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Fife  acquired  his  classical  education  at  the 
Leland  Stanford,  Jr.,  university  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Harvard  law  school  in  the  class  of  1900.  Mr.  Fife  is  a  man  of 
splendid  natural  abilities  and  these,  combined  with  the  excellent 
literary  and  legal  education  which  he  has  received,  well  prepared 
him  for  the  arduous  duties  of  the  exacting  profession  that  he 
espoused.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March,  1901,  and  since 
has  practiced  his  profession  with  much  success  and  has  achieved  a 
respectable  position  among  the  attorneys  of  Pittsburg. 

ANTHONY  STAAB,  of  the  firm  of  Yunker  &  Co.,  funeral 
directors  at  No.  no  South  Main  St.,  thirty-sixth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
was  born  in  the  thirty-fourth  ward,  Pittsburg,  in  1866.  When 
three  years  old  his  parents  moved  with  him  to  Elliott,  Allegheny 
county,  and  there  Mr.  Staab  attended  school  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  thirteen.  He  then  went  to  work  in  the  iron  mill  of  Painter 
&  Son,  was  employed  there  for  seven  years,  and  then  engaged  for 
a  year  in  the  general  hauling  business.  In  1892  Mr.  Staab  went 
into  the  livery  and  undertaking  business,  in  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged.  He  is  a  prominent  man  in  his  profession  and  a 
member  of  the  Funeral  Directors'  association  of  Allegheny  county. 
Mr.  Staab  is  a  member  of  the  German  Catholic  church.  In  politi- 
cal belief  he  is  a  democrat. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  487 

ROBERT    KENNEDY,  a  well-known 
citizen   of   Tarentum,    Pa.,  was  born   in 
East  Deer  township,   Allegheny  county, 
April    23,   1842,     He  was  just  upon  the 
threshold  of  his  manhood  when  the  great 
Civil  war  broke  upon  the  country.     On 
Aug.   27,   1 86 1,    he   enlisted   from    Wood 
^       ^'  J^^         county,    W.   Va.,  as   a   private   in    Capt. 
^^^^^^^^^^      Ansel  B,  Denton's  company,  afterwards 
^B^^^^^^^^^^m        Company  C,  i8th  United  States  infantry, 
^^^^KmB^^m  Col.  Henry  6.  Carrington,  commanding, 

^^m^^^mr  and  Oliver  Shepherd,  lieutenant-colonel. 

The  i8th  was  one  of  the  three  battalion 
regiments  organized  under  President  Lincoln's  proclamation  of 
May  31st,  ordering  an  increase  in  the  regular  army.  The  regi- 
ment took  the  field  in  December,  1861,  and  from  that  time  until 
mustered  out  it  was  on  the  firing  line,  sustaining  the  heaviest 
losses  of  any  regiment  in  the  regular  army.  It  participated  in  the 
siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  during  the  entire  month  of  May,  1862;  was 
at  Perryville,  Ky. ,  in  the  following  October;  at  Stone  River  and 
Murfreesboro  during  the  last  days  of  1862  and  the  first  days  of 
1863;  at  Hoover's  Gap  in  June,  1863,  and  in  all  the  battles  and  skir- 
mishes of  the  Chickamauga  campaign.  Mr.  Kennedy  was  captured 
at  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  on  Sept.  20,  1863,  and  remained  a  prisoner 
for  nearly  fifteen  months.  In  that  time  he  saw  the  inside  of  some 
of  the  most  noted  prisons  of  the  Confederacy.  For  eleven  days 
immediately  following  his  capture  he  was  confined  at  Belle  Island, 
Va.  ;  then  for  the  next  two  months  in  Smith's  building,  Richmond, 
Va.  ;  then  at  Danville,  Va.,  until  April  6,  1864,  when  he  was 
removed  to  the  famous  prison  at  Andersonville,  Ga.  He  remained 
at  Andersonville  until  about  the  middle  of  September,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  the  race-track  prison,  Charleston,  S.  C,  held 
there  for  about  three  weeks,  and  then  taken  to  Florence,  S.  C, 
where  he  was  exchanged  on  Dec.  15,  1864.  Up  to  the  time  of  his 
capture,  Mr.  Kennedy  had  been  with  his  command,  obedient  to 
the  orders  of  his  superiors,  and  always  at  his  post  of  duty.  In 
recognition  of  his  meritorious  services  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  corporal  in  May,  1863.  He  was  in  all  the  engagements  in  which 
the  regiment  took  part,  and  was  in  a  number  of  expeditions  involv- 
ing skirmishes  and  dangerous  situations.  As  instances  of  the 
valor  of  the  18th  regiment,  it  is  worthy  of  mention  that  at  the 
battle  of  Stone  River  it  lost  102  officers  and  men,  and  at  Chicka- 


488  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

mauga  forty-eight  were  either  killed  or  mortally  wounded. 
Corporal  Kennedy  received  his  honorable  discharge,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Camp  Thomas,  Ohio,  Feb.  lo, 
1865,  having  served  four  months  and  fourteen  days  more  than  the 
three  years  for  which  he  enlisted.  On  Nov.  ir,  1869,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Maria  Crawford,  at  Hites,  Allegheny  county.  After  a 
few  years  of  happy  wedded  life,  she  passed  away,  and  on  July  6, 
1892,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Idaletta  M.  Dickey,  of  Taren- 
tum.  To  this  union  two  sons  have  been  born :  Robert  Dickey,  born 
May  13,  1898,-  and  George  Russell,  born  April  7,  1901.  Mr. 
Kennedy  is  a  member  of  Eli  Hemphill  post,  No.  135,  department 
of  Pennsylvania,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  which  he  served 
one  term  as  commander.  He  is  also  a  past  master  of  his  Masonic 
lodge,  has  served  twelve  years  as  a  school  director  and  one  year 
as  road  supervisor.  In  all  these  positions  he  acquitted  himself 
with  credit  and  acquired  a  reputation  for  that  conscientious 
discharge  of  his  duties  which  marked  his  career  as  a  soldier  in  the 
army  of  his  country. 

SILAS  AUSTIN  WILL,  a  well-known 
attorney  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  July  28, 
1846,  in  Milford  township,  Somerset  Co., 
Pa.       His     parents,     Silas    and    Harriet 
^5  (Chorpenning)  Will,  were  both  natives  of 

Somerset  county.  During  his  boyhood 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the 
common  schools  of  Somerset  county,  but 
in  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
'^  in  Company  C,   i42d   Pennsylvania   vol- 

I  unteer   infantry,    and   served    with    that 

I-  regiment      until      January,       1864.        In 

August,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
5th  heavy  artillery,  and  served  in  that  regiment  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  corporal. 
While  in  the  infantry  service  he  participated  in  the  famous  battles 
of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  and 
while  in  the  artillery  he  was  chiefly  engaged  in  guerrilla  warfare. 
After  the  war  was  over  he  set  to  work  to  complete  his  education, 
and  graduated  from  the  Millersville  normal  school,  near  Lancaster, 
Pa.  For  the  next  six  years  he  taught  in  the  public  schools,  and  on 
April  I,  1875,  was  duly  registered  and  began  the  study  of  law  in 
the  offices  of  Gazzam  &  Cochran,  of  Pittsburg.     On  April  14,  1877, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  489 

he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  in  con- 
tinuous practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  bar  association,  and 
practices  in  all  the  state  and  federal  courts.  His  home  is  in  the 
thirteenth  ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  for  nine  years  he 
represented  that  ward  as  the  member  of  the  board  of  school 
directors.  In  politics  Mr.  Will  is  an  uncompromising  republican, 
and  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  political  matters.  He  is  a 
member  of  Hays  post.  No.  3,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  a  life  member 
of  the  National  Fraternal  Congress  as  past  president;  also  a 
member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs,  having  served 
eight  years  as  the  head  of  the  order  in  the  capacity  of  supreme 
archon;  also  a  member  of  the  Americus  club.  His  wife  died 
Sept.  6,  1901,  leaving  no  children.  On  Sept.  2,  1903,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  H.  Brant. 

A.  J.  KELLY,  Jr.,  vice-president  of  the  Commonwealth  real 
estate  and  trust  company,  has  been  for  many  years  prominent  in 
Pittsburg  business  life.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Washington 
county,  Pa.,  in  1856,  and  lived  there  until  his  eighteenth  year.  He 
went  to  Jefferson  academy,  at  Cannonsburg,  in  order  to  continue 
his  education.  Leaving  school  in  1877,  Mr.  Kelly  went  to  Canton, 
Ohio,  was  employed  for  a  while  as  clerk  and  later  studied  law  in  the 
offices  of  Lynch  &  Day.  He  returned  to  Pittsburg  in  1879,  and  in 
1880  became  clerk  in  the  United  States  pension  agency.  The 
following  year  he  began  his  long  career  as  a  real  estate  man,  in  the 
office  of  W.  A.  Herron  &  Sons,  remaining  with  this  concern  until 
1902,  when  the  business  was  merged  into  the  Commonwealth  real 
estate  and  trust  company.  He  then  became  vice-president  of  the 
new  concern.  In  politics  Mr.  Kelly  is  a  republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

CARROLL  P.  DAVIS,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  attorney- 
at-law,  with  offices  in  the  Park  building,  was  born  in  that  city, 
Feb.  I,  1868,  son  of  Charles  C.  and  Westanna  (Preston)  Davis. 
Mr.  Davis  acquired  his  classical  education  at  the  Phillips  academy, 
Andover,  Mass.,  and  at  Yale  college,  being  graduated  at  the  latter 
institution  in  1891.  Mr.  Davis  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  D.  T. 
Watson,  a  well-known  attorney  of  Pittsburg,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  December,  1892.  Since  then  he  has  practiced  with 
much  success,  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  stands  high  among 
the  attorneys  of  Allegheny  county. 


490  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  SCOTT,  the  well-known 
marble-cutter  of  Bakerstown,  bears  a 
name  that  is  highly  honored  in  Allegheny 
county,  both  on  account  of  his  own 
merits  and  the  distinguished  services  of 
his  father  during  the  Civil  war.  His 
grandfather,  John  Scott,  who  is  men- 
tioned in  another  part  of  this  work,  was 
a  native  of  Ireland  who  came  to  Alle- 
gheny county  in  1822  and  settled  in  West 
Deer  township  with  his  family.  Included 
in  the  latter  was  an  infant  son  named 
William,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Ireland, 
Dec.  22,  1821.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  but  afterwards  engaged 
in  merchandising,  which  was  the  principal  occupation  of  his  life, 
though  he  also  did  some  farming.  He  affiliated  with  the  demo- 
cratic party,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  altogether  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  popular  men  in  his  community. 
When  the  Civil  war  began,  he  lost  no  time  in  offering  his  services 
to  the  government,  and  in  August,  1861,  became  a  member  of 
Company  B,  6ist  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  He 
served  without  injury  until  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  fought  in 
June,  1862,  when  he  was  killed  in  action.  He  had  already  been  pro- 
moted for  meritorious  conduct  and  gave  promise  of  a  brilliant  career 
in  the  army,  had  not  his  life  been  cut  short  by  the  fortunes  of  war. 
His  surviving  comrades  honored  him  by  giving  his  name  to  the 
local  Grand  Army  post,  established  in  his  honor  in  West  Deer 
township,  and  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  of  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Tarentum 
is  also  called  by  his  name.  This  gallant  soldier,  whose  fame  is  so 
tenderly  cherished  at  his  old  home,  was  married  Nov.  20,  1845,  to 
Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Carlisle.  The 
latter  couple  were  natives  of  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  Allegheny 
county  in  181 7  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  West  Deer  township,  where 
the  father  died  July  10,  1850,  and  his  widow  March  12,  1862. 
They  had  six  children,  but  Mrs.  William  Scott,  who  was  born  Aug. 
12,  182 1,  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  This  venerable  lady, 
now  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  her  age,  resides  at  Bakerstown  with 
her  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Since  sixteen  years  old, 
she  has  been  a  member  of  the  Deer  Creek  United  Presbyterian 
church,  to  which  her  parents  also  belonged.  William  Scott,  son  of 
the  deceased  veteran  and  the  lady  above  described,  was  born  in 
Bakerstown,  Pa.,  Dec.  9,  1859,  and   consequently  was  still  a  mere 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  491 

lad  when  his  father  was  killed  in  battle.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  educated  in  the  neighborhood  schools  and  when  nineteen 
years  old  went  to  Brownsdale  to  learn  the  trade  of  marble-cutting. 
After  acquiring  the  necessary  skill,  he  worked  at  this  trade  for  a 
while  in  Allegheny  county  and  in  1882  began  business  on  his  own 
account  at  Bakerstown,  which  he  has  since  continued  with  success, 
Mr.  Scott  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  has  held  the  offices  of  assessor 
and  constable  and  is  now  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is 
president  of  the  Bakerstown  creamery  company,  secretary  of  the 
Bakerstown  mutual  fire  insurance  company  and  secretary  of  the 
Bakerstown  cemetery  association.  He  is  a  member  of  Hampton 
lodge,  No.  1004,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics.  On  May  10,  1882,  Mr.  Scott  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  J.  S.,  daughter  of  W,  S.  Marshall, 
elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  work.  She  is  a  native  of  West  Deer 
township  and  was  born  Nov.  17,  i860,  Leon  Vernon,  the  only  son 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott,  was  born  April  13,  1883,  was  educated  in 
the  Bakerstown  schools  and  the  Actual  business  college,  and  is  a 
young  man  of  bright  promise. 

RALPH  CARTER  DAVIS,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  well  and  favor- 
ably known  young  attorney,  with  offices  in  the  Bakewell  building, 
was  born  in  Erie  county.  Pa.,  Sept,  22,  1881,  son  of  Livingston  L. 
and  Anna  (Carter)  Davis,  his  father  a  native  of  Crawford  county, 
his  mother  of  Erie  county,  and  both  now  residing  at  Homestead, 
Pa.  Ralph  C,  Davis  was  educated  in  the  graded  and  high  schools 
of  Homestead,  read  law  in  his  father's  office,  and  later  attended  the 
Pittsburg  law  school.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1902,  immediately  began  the  practice  in  Pittsburg,  and  at  that  time 
was  the  youngest  attorney  engaged  in  practice  in  Allegheny 
county.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  young  man  of  fine  natural  abilities,  has 
been  well  grounded  in  the  principles  of  law,  and  is  making  a 
decided  success  of  his  professional  career. 

JACOB  W.  KRAUS,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful of  the  younger  members  of  the  bar  of  that  city,  with  offices 
in  the  Hampton  law  building,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Oct.  9,  1874, 
son  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  (Engle)  Kraus,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  Pittsburg  in  childhood  and  have  since  resided 
in  that  city.  His  father  has  been  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
Mount  Oliver  for  thirty-five  years,  has  served  as  burgess  of  that 
borough  and  as  a  school  director  of  the  twenty-seventh  ward,  being 


492  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

one  of  the  first  to  fill  that  position  in  that  ward.  Mr.  Kraus  was 
educated  at  the  Duquesne  college  and  the  Pittsburg  college,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  latter  institution  in  1900  with  the  degree 
of  bachelor  of  arts.  He  then  matriculated  at  the  Notre  Dame  uni- 
versity, Indiana,  where  he  devoted  his  attention  to  law.  On  gradu- 
ation he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  June  9, 
1901,  and  has  since  met  with  much  success  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. Mr.  Kraus  is  borough  solicitor  of  Mount  Oliver  borough, 
and  practices  in  all  the  courts.  He  is  highly  regarded  by  the 
attorneys  of  Pittsburg,  and  is  fast  winning  a  place  of  prominence 
at  the  bar.  He  possesses  ability,  integrity  and  energy,  and  with 
sucli  endowments  a  successful  career  is  assured. 

WILLIAM  A.  GRISCOM,  a  resident 
of  Avalon  borough,  son  of  John  S.  Gris- 
com,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  29, 
1863 ;  was  educated  in  the  Quaker  schools, 
and  graduated  from  the  high  school  in 
188 1.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
accepted  a  position  in  the  transportation 
department  of  the  Pennsylvania  lines 
west  of  Pittsburg,  and  has  served  con- 
tinuously in  this  department  for  the  last 
twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Griscom  was  mar- 
ried, Oct.  20,  1887,  to  Bessie  Taylor,  of 
Sewickley,  Pa.,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  two  sons:  John  Lloyd  and  Walter.  His  father,  John  S. 
Griscom,  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  After  finishing  grade  and  high 
schools  in  that  city,  he  became  an  engineer  in  the  coast  survey  for 
the  United  States,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  was  on 
the  coast  of  Mexico.  At  the  call  to  arms  he  returned  home  and 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  navy,  being  assigned  to  the  gunboat 
"Mackinaw."  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Dec.  25,  1864,  he  was 
acting  as  lieutenant  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Fisher.  Mr.  Griscom 
was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  St.  John's  commandery, 
Philadelphia.  William  A.  Griscom,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has 
also  a  record  in  the  annals  of  war.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  E,  14th  regiment,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  in  which  he 
served  five  years,  going  through  the  various  non-commissioned 
offices.  In  1888  he  enlisted  in  Battery  B,  where  he  served  three 
years.  He  then  left  the  national  guard  till  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Spanish  war,  when  he  became  one  of  the  chief  promoters  in  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  493 

organization  of  Company  K,  17th  regiment,  national  guards  of 
Pennsylvania.  On  the  return  of  the  old  regiment  from  the  Spanish 
war,  Company  K,  which  Mr.  Griscom  represents  as  captain,  was 
made  Company  H,  14th  regiment,  national  guards.  In  August, 
1898,  he  was  elected  second  lieutenant;  in  October  of  the  same 
year,  first  lieutenant,  and  in  February,  1899,  he  was  elected 
captain,  which  position  he  now  holds.  Mr.  Griscom  saw  service 
in  the  anthracite  coal  strike  of  1902.  This  company  was  located 
for  some  time  at  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  county.  In  politics 
Mr.  Griscom  is  a  republican,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  politics  of  his  county  and  district.  Having  been  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Avalon  borough  by  Gov.  Robert  Pattison 
to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  he  was  elected  by  the  people  for  a  term 
of  five  years.  In  February,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  the  highest 
position  in  Avalon  borough,  that  of  burgess.  Mr  Griscom 's  record 
from  a  business  standpoint  speaks  for  itself,  having  been  in  the 
employ  of  one  company  during  his  entire  career.  In  religious  faith 
he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

JOHN  A.  STALKY,  broker  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  in  Sidney, 
Ohio,  in  1861.  He  came  to  Pittsburg  with  his  parents  in  1866,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  school  and  under  private  tutors. 
When  about  seventeen  or  eighteen  years  old,  he  began  to  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  M.  Marshall,  and  spent  four  years  in  this 
manner,  but  never  practiced,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  Mr,  Staley  was  for  a  number  of  years  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  on  Penn  avenue,  and  then,  in  1894,  bought 
a  cafe  which  he  ran  for  five  and  a  half  years.  In  1902  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  B.  Eisaman  &  Co.,  prominent  stock 
brokers  of  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Staley  is  a  member  of  no  secret 
orders.  He  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  While  not 
taking  an  active  interest  in  party  matters,  in  political  belief  he  is  a 
democrat,  with  independent  tendencies. 

WILLIAM  H.  HARVEY,  contractor  of  general  painting  and 
member  of  the  Allegheny  city  common  council  from  the  fourth 
ward,  is  a  native  of  Butler  county,  where  he  was  born  in  1872. 
His  parents  are  John  and  Margaret  Harvey,  well-known  residents 
of  Butler  county.  Until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  William 
attended  the  common  schools,  thus  securing  a  good,  practical  edu- 
cation. He  then  went  to  Allegheny  city  and  learned  the  painting 
trade  with  Robert  Jamison,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years. 


494 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 


When  he  was  about  twenty-two  years  old  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  as  a  contractor,  in  which  he  still  continues,  his  present 
offices  being  located  at  No.  605  Sandusky  St.  Politically,  Mr. 
Harvey  is  an  uncompromising  republican,  and  is  always  ready  to 
do  battle  for  his  political  opinions.  Still  he  is  not  offensive  in 
pressing  his  views,  and  numbers  among  his  personal  friends  many 
who  are  his  political  opponents.  In  February,  1903,  he  was 
elected  to  the  common  council,  where  he  has  been  honored  with 
appointment  upon  the  grade  crossing,  public  works  and  library 
committees.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a  member  of  Allegheny  lodge. 
No.  339,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  which  is  the 
only  fraternal  organization  to  claitn  his  affiliation. 


DANIEL  BODEN,  superintendent  of 
the  Mansfield  coal  and  coke  company, 
Carnegie,  was  born  in  Staffordshire, 
England,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
Boden.  Thomas  Boden  was  interested 
in  the  coal  business  in  England,  but  came 
to  America  for  his  health  and  did  not 
engage  actively  in  business.  He  and  his 
wife  were  residents  of  Pittsburg  and 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Boden  died  in  1864,  when 
about  seventy  years  old,  and  his  wife  died 
the  next  year  at  about  the  same  age.  Of 
the  fifteen  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Boden,  four 
survive:  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Tramford,  who  lives  in  England; 
Samuel,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Scott  township,  Allegheny 
county,  also  now  in  England;  Mary,  who  married  George  Green, 
of  Allegheny  county,  and  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Daniel  Boden  attended  the  public  and  select  schools,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  education  went  to  work  in  the  mines,  and  has  been  a 
miner  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  less  than  a  year,  which  he 
spent  as  mail  agent  in  the  United  States  civil  service.  Mr.  Boden 
has  held  his  present  responsible  position  for  the  past  seventeen 
years,  and  is  a  man  well  acquainted  with  all  the  details  of  mining. 
The  Mansfield  coal  and  coke  company  is  a  prosperous  concern 
which  gets  out  about  1,800  tons  of  coal  a  day.  Mr.  Boden  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and  held  several  other 
public  positions,  but  does  not  now  take  so  great  an  interest  in 
politics  as  formerly.     He  has  been  for  the  past  six  years  a  member 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  495 

of  the  school  board  of  Carnegie,  is  a  trustee  of  the  Carnegie  library, 
and  treasurer  of  the  Miners'  accidental  association.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  187 1,  to  Miss  Sarah  McVay,  daughter  of  Timothy  McVay, 
of  Allegheny  county,  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boden  have 
had  three  children,  all  of  whom  died  when  young.  Mr.  Boden  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Boden  is  treasurer  and  one  of  the  committee  on  publishing.  He  is 
a  member  of  various  secret  organizations. 

ADDISON  MURRAY  IMBRIE,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful 
general  practitioner  of  law,  was  born   near   New  Galilee,   Beaver 
Co.,  Pa.,  July  29,  1853,  son  of  James  M.  and  Clorinda  (Jackson) 
Imbrie,  the  former  dying  on  April   12,  1889,  and  his  mother  on 
April    18,    1899.     Both   parents   were   natives   of    Beaver   county, 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in   agricultural  pursuits  for  many 
years  and  was  a  prominent  factor  in  the  development  of  that  sec- 
tion.    The  Imbrie  family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and  James  Imbrie, 
the   great-grandfather  of  Addison    M.,  settled  in  Moon  township 
(then  Allegheny  county,  where  his  will  is  filed)  in  1790,  there  died 
in  March,  1803,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Service  graveyard,  near 
his  home.     His  son.  Rev.  David  Imbrie,  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
on  Aug.  22,  1777,  and  studied  divinity  under  Dr.  John  Anderson, 
of   Moon    township,  and   in    1803  was   licensed   to   preach   at   the 
Seceder  church.     He  married  Jean,  daughter  of  John  and  Annie 
(Atchison)  Reed,  who  were  both  natives  of  Lancaster  county,  and 
settled  in  Washington  county  in  1777.     David  and  Jean  Imbrie  had 
the  following  children:  Ann  Reed,  born  March  29,  1805,  married 
Joseph  Sharp,  and  died  Sept.  11,  1881 ;  Maria  Smart,  born  Sept    i, 
1807,  married  Dr.  J.  W.  Calvin,  and  died  in  August,   1851;  Jean, 
born   July    i,  1809,  and   died   unmarried  in  October,  1857;  David 
Reed,  born  Jan.  24,  1812,  and  died  Jan.  29,  1872;  John  Reed,  born 
April  13,  1815,  and  died  March  28,  i860,  and  with  two  of  his  sons 
is   interred   in    the   cemetery  at  Washington,   Pa. ;  James   Milton, 
born  March  9,  1816,  and  died  April  12,  1889;  Elmira  Emily,  born 
March  2,  1819,  married  John  M.  Buchanan,  and  died  Oct.  15,  1895. 
David  Imbrie  died  June   12,  1842,  and  his  wife  on  March  18,  1825, 
and  both  are  buried  in  the  Seceders'  graveyard,  near  Darlington. 
The  mother  of   Addison   M.  Imbrie  was  a  descendant  of  Samuel 
Jackson,  who  settled  in  Chester  county.  Pa.,  about  1729,  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  that  section  of  the  state.     Addison  M. 
Imbrie  acquired  his  educational  training  in  the  public  and  private 
schools,  having   attended   the    Darlington    academy   and   the    Mt. 


496  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

Pleasant  academy,  of  Westmoreland  county,  and  was  graduated 
from  Washington  and  Jefferson  college  in  the  class  of  1876.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Samuel  B,  Wilson,  of  Beaver,  Pa.,  and  in 
April,  1878,  registered  as  a  student  in  the  office  of  Thomas  M. 
Marshall,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  July,  1880,  for  the  next  ten  years  was  associated  in 
the  practice  with  his  former  preceptor,  Thomas  M.  Marshall,  and 
since  that  time  has  maintained  independent  offices.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  courts,  the  Allegheny  county  and  the  Pennsylvania  state 
bar  associations,  and  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice.  Mr.  Imbrie  was 
married  in  Allegheny  city.  Pa.,  Oct.  2,  1884,  to  Hattie  Silliman, 
and  they  have  had  two  children:  Addison  M.,  Jr.,  who  died  in  child- 
hood, and  Boyd  Vincent.  Mr.  Imbrie  is  a  member  of  the 
Duquesne,  Monongahela  and  Country  clubs,  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

ROBERT  PALMER,  a  resident  of 
Haysville  borough,  was  born  m  Man- 
chester, Allegheny  county,  and  is  a  son 
of  Alexander  and  Sarah  Palmer.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Allegheny  city.  Mr.  Palmer, 
being  of  a  very  ambitious  nature,  began 
work  at  an  early  age,  being  employed  by 
the  firm  of  Ritchey  &  Feinkbine,  known 
as  Old  Point  saw-mill,  of  Allegheny  city, 
when  he  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Following  his  inclination  toward  mechan- 
ics, he  next  sought  employment  in  the 
shops  of  the  Fort  Wayne  railroad  in  January,  1878,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  his  superior  ability  was  recognized,  and  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  fireman,  Sept.  16,  1879.  Mr.  Palmer 
worked  in  this  position  five  years,  when  a  second  promotion  made 
him  engineer.  On  Jan.  i,  1900,  he  was  appointed  to  the  respon- 
sible position  of  assistant  road  foreman  of  engines  of  the  eastern 
division  of  the  P.,  F.  W.  &  C.  railroad.  Three  years  later  he  was 
again  promoted,  this  time  to  the  position  of  road  foreman  of 
engines  on  the  T.,  W.  V.  &  O.  railroad,  a  position  which  requires 
great  presence  of  mind  and  prompt  action.  Mr.  Palmer  was  mar- 
ried, June  10,  1886,  to  Ada  V.  Ballard,  of  Emsworth,  Pa.,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  two  children:  Robert  B.  and  Sarah  Maria. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  497 

GEORGE  ELLIOTT  PEEBLES,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  rising 
young  attorney,  was  born  in  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  Nov.  26,  1877, 
son  of  William  and  Margaret  J.  (McKelvy)  Peebles,  both  natives 
of  Pittsburg,  where  his  father  has  spent  his  entire  life.  His  par- 
ents had  three  children,  the  others  being  William  McKelvy  and 
Jane  McCully.  George  E.  Peebles  was  educated  in  the  rudi- 
mentary branches  at  the  Liberty  public  school  and  the  Shady  Side 
academy,  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1895.  Subse- 
quently he  matriculated  at  Princeton  university  and  was  graduated 
from  that  famous  seat  of  learning  in  1899.  Mr.  Peebles  then 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  J.  E.  McKelvy,  a  prominent  attorney 
of  Pittsburg,  later  attending  the  Pittsburg  law  school,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1902.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
on  June  21,  1902,  at  once  began  the  practice,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued quite  successfully.  Mr.  Peebles  is  well  endowed  by  nature 
and  training  for  the  arduous  profession  which  he  has  espoused,  and 
the  future  is  bright  with  promise  of  a  long  and  prosperous  career 
at  the  bar. 

HON.  JOHN  F.  COX,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Allegheny  county  bar,  is 
a  native  of  Miffiin  township,  Allegheny 
county,  Pa.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Anna  (Dellenbaugh)  Cox,  the  former 
a  native  of  Northamptonshire,  England, 
and  the  latter  of  Switzerland.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  Thomas  and 
Catherine  Cox  and  his  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Christian  and  Anna  Dellen- 
baugh. His  father  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  a  Miss  Hannah  Ford, 
whom  he  married  in  England,  in  1828. 
Soon  after  this  marriage  he  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Allegheny  county.  He  located  opposite  what  is  now  the  borough 
of  Homestead,  where  for  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  salt.  Later  he  removed  to  Mifflin  township  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  retired  from  active  business  in  1878  and 
spent  the  remaining  days  of  his  life  in  Homestead,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  labors  of  earlier  years.  John  F.  Cox  was  born  Oct.  6, 
1852,  on  the  farm  in  Mifflin  township,  where,  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  assisted  with  the  work  of  the  farm  and  attended 
the   common  schools.     He   then   entered  Westminster   college,  at 

1-32 


498  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  and  studied  in  that  institution  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Union  college,  located  at  Alliance, 
Ohio,  and  graduated  from  that  college  in  18.76,  He  then  taught 
in  the  schools  of  Camden  and  Homestead  for  three  years,  then  read 
law  with  Maj.  W.  C.  Moreland  and  John  H.  Kerr,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  in  1880  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  soon  acquired  a  high 
standing  at  the  bar,  and  his  practice  now  extends  to  all  the  state 
and  federal  courts.  In  politics  Mr.  Cox  is  an  enthusiastic  repub- 
lican and  is  generally  identified  with  all  movements  touching  the 
welfare  of  that  party.  In  1884  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legis- 
lature and  in  1886  he  was  re-elected.  He  has  been  borough  solic- 
itor for  Homestead,  where  he  resides,  for  fifteen  years. 

JOSEPH  JENNINGS  KINTNER,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  promi- 
nent practitioner  of  law,  was  born  in  Wyoming  county.  Pa., 
Sept.  4,  1870,  son  of  Col.  J.  C.  and  Mary  A.  (Jennings)  Kintner. 
His  father  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  that  section  of  the  state 
and  an  important  factor  in  its  political  affairs,  having  served  on  the 
staff  of  Gov.  Henry  M.  Hoyt  and  also  occupied  the  position  of  col- 
lector of  internal  revenue.  His  mother  was  a  woman  of  fine 
character  and  urged  upon  her  son  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  a  full  educational  training,  all  of  which  sank  deep  into  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Kintner.  His  father  died  when  Joseph  J.  was  but 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  his  mother  died  in  1889,  just  a  few  months 
after  her  son  had  entered  college.  Joseph  J.  Kintner  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools,  then  prepared  for  a  col- 
lege course  at  the  Wyoming  seminary,  Kingston,  Pa.,  and  later 
entered  the  Pennsylvania  state  college.  On  the  completion  of  the 
course  at  that  institution,  Mr.  Kintner  commenced  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  W.  H.  Spender,  completed  his  legal  studies 
under  Charles  H.  Smiley,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Perry 
county  in  1894.  The  following  year  Mr.  Kintner  removed  to 
Clinton  county,  remained  until  the  fall  of  1898,  and  then  located  at 
Pittsburg,  where  he  now  enjoys  a  splendid  practice.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Florence  Kindig,  March  24,  1898,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  born  June  2,  1899;  Joseph  Richard,  born  Feb.  10, 
1901,  and  Louise,  born  Sept.  28,  1902.  Mr.  Kintner  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  when  only  twenty-two  years  of 
age  was  burgess  of  Bloomfield;  he  also  served  as  deputy  register 
and  recorder  and  clerk  of  Perry  county.  At  the  time  of  his 
removal  to  Pittsburg  he  was  the  republican  candidate  for  district 
attorney  of  Clinton  county,  but  withdrew  from  the  ticket  to  enter 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  499 

the  larger  field.  Shortly  after  his  removal  to  Allegheny  county,  he 
located  in  the  borough  of  Aspinvvall,  has  since  taken  an  active 
interest  in  local  affairs,  and  for  a  time  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  that  borough.  Mr.  Kintner  is  in  great  demand  as  a  cam- 
paign speaker,  and  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  repub- 
lican side  of  all  political  contests  since  1892.  Mr,  Kintner  is  also 
closely  associated  with  a  number  of  business  enterprises,  being  a 
director  in  the  American  insurance  company,  the  Negley  &  Clark 
company,  the  Duquesne  roach  powder  company  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vania novelty  company,  and  has  valuable  holdings  of  real  estate. 

ARTHUR  JAMES  KUHN,  a  promi- 
nent real  estate  man  of  Homestead  and 
secretary  of  the  Homestead  realty  com- 
pany, was  born  at  Broad  Fording,  West- 
moreland Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1853,  son  of 
Andrew  James  and  Margaret  (McGough) 
Kuhn,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  George  Kuhn, 
a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  moved  to 
Westmoreland  county  in  early  life  and 
died  there.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Topper.  Andrew  J.  Kuhn, 
son  of  George  Kuhn,  was  a  merchant  at 
Broad  Fording,  Westmoreland  county.  He  also  ran  aline  of  boats 
on  the  canal,  and  had  a  line  of  transportation  freight  wagons 
between  Pittsburg  and  Philadelphia,  before  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road was  built.  \n  1852  he  located  in  Latrobe,  and  when  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  was  being  built  he  furnished  materials  and 
supplies  for  the  contractors.  He  died  in  Latrobe  in  1857.  He 
married  Margaret  McGough,  daughter  of  Arthur  McGough. 
Arthur  McGough,  a  native  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  was  a  pioneer 
farmer  of  Westmoreland  county,  where  he  died.  Andrew  J.  Kuhn 
and  wife  had  three  children:  George,  Arthur  J.  and  Jennie. 
Arthur  J.  Kuhn,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in  Latrobe, 
Pa.,  and  educated  at  St.  Vincent's  college.  In  1868  he  started  in 
to  learn  the  drug  business  and  was  a  druggist  for  almost  twenty 
years,  at  first  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Kuhn  Bros.,  Latrobe,  and 
later  at- Meyersdale,  Pa.,  and  Oakland,  Md.  In  May,  1887,  he 
located  in  Homestead,  continuing  in  the  drug  business  until  1892. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business.      In   February,    1901,   when  several  real 


500  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

estate  firms  were  consolidated  as  the  Homestead  realty  company, 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  Mr.  Kuhn  was  made  secretary  of  the 
new  corporation,  and  still  holds  that  position.  He  is  also  president 
of  the  Homestead  land  investment  company,  of  Homestead,  a 
director  and  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Duquesne 
library  land  company,  director  of  the  Beaver  terrace  land  com- 
pany, and  director  of  the  Beaver  terrace  railway  company.  Mr. 
Kuhn  was  married,  Jan.  29,  1876,  to  Mary  H.,  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Margaret  (Honan)  McCollum,  of  Chester,  Pa.,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Margaret  Hilda.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  K.  of  C,  C.  M.  B.  A.  and  Y.  M.  I.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E,  Mr.  Kuhn  is  a  popular  and  enterpris- 
ing citizen  of  Homestead,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  its  best 
people.  He  has  served  his  borough  as  school  director  for  one 
term,  and  was  for  two  terms  justice  of  the  peace.  Politically,  he 
is  a  democrat. 

JOHN  MOORE  PETTY,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
attorney-at-law,  with  offices  in  the  Prick  building,  was  born  near 
Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  Aug.  28,  1869,  son  of  George  M.  and  Elizabeth  J. 
(Brown)  Petty,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  his  mother 
of  Allegheny  county.  Pa.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  John  M. 
Petty  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pittsburg,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  was  a  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizen.  The  Brown  family  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  growth  and  advancement  of  Pittsburg  for  many  years,  and 
many  of  its  members  have  occupied  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in 
that  city.  George  M.  Petty  was  a  member  of  the  15th  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteer  cavalry,  enlisted  in  1861,  and  served  for  three 
years.  After  receiving  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Pittsburg, 
where  he  remained  until  1880,  except  for  a  three  years'  residence 
in  Kansas.  He  served  as  cashier  of  the  Diamond  bank  during  its 
existence.  John  M.  Petty  removed  with  his  parents  to  Pittsburg 
when  only  two  years  of  age,  and  after  a  nine  years'  residence 
there  accompanied  his  parents  to  a  farm  in  Nebraska,  where 
they  now  reside.  Mr.  Petty  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Nebraska  and  at  the  high  school  at  Ord,  Neb.,  and  dur- 
ing all  of  this  time  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  After  reaching 
manhood,  Mr.  Petty  secured  a  position  in  a  general  store  at  Ord, 
and  six  months  later  went  into  the  county  clerk's  office,  where  he 
remained  for  one  year.  Mr.  Petty  then  removed  to  Chicago, 
became  assistant  bookkeeper  for  Alexander  Revell,  and  one  year 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  501 

later  was  given  a  position  in  another  department.  In  the  spring 
of  1892  he  came  to  Pittsburg  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  his  uncle, 
Robert  B.  Petty,  and  in  1895  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny 
county.  Mr.  Petty  is  a  member  of  all  courts  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
also  the  United  States  district  and  circuit  courts,  but  confines  his 
practice  almost  entirely  to  civil  business.  He  is  a  well-known 
citizen,  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  resides  in  the 
thirteenth  ward  of  Pittsburg. 

JESSE  MAINHART  HOUSE,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  a  well-known  contractor 
and  builder,  was  born  at  Lycippus,  West- 
moreland Co.,  Pa.,  May  26,  187 1,  son  of 
Allen  W.  and  Martha  (Mainhart)  House. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  Daniel 
House,  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
of  German  descent,  who  married  Eliza 
Crimmel,  of  Juniata  county,  also  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  they  had  a  family  of  five 
sons:  Jesse,  Joseph,  Allen  W.,  William  H. 
and  Daniel  N.  The  elder  House  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  settled  in  Mount 
Pleasant  township,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  about  1838,  and  there 
resided  until  his  death.  His  sons,  Jesse  and  Joseph,  served  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  the  former  dying  in  the 
service,  and  his  remains  are  now  buried  at  Culpeper  Court  House, 
Va.  Allen  W.  House,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Mount 
Pleasant  township,  Westmoreland  county,  Dec.  18,  1844,  and  there 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  blacksmiths'  trade,  and 
later  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenters'  trade,  which  he 
followed  as  a  joiner  for  three  years.  Then  he  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  contracting  and  building,  and  followed  that  vocation  in 
Somerset,  Westmoreland  and  Allegheny  counties  until  1902,  resid- 
ing at  Homestead  since  1888.  He  was  married,  on  July  4,  1867,  to 
Martha,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Savilla  (Blyholder)  Mainhart,  of 
Pennsylvania  township,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  but  formerly  of 
Germany,  and  they  have  eight  children:  Lawrence  L.,  Jesse  M., 
Harry,  Jacob;  Delia,  wife  of  Edward  Rorneck;  Viola,  wife  of 
Arthur  Woodhall;  Jennie  and  Cleveland.  Jesse  M.  House  was 
reared  in  his  native  town,  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at 
Curry  institute,    at   Pittsburg,    and  then  learned  the  carpenters' 


502  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

trade  under  his  father.  In  1888  he  located  at  Homestead,  where 
he  at  once  commenced  contracting  and  building-,  and  has  since  suc- 
cessfully continued.  He  has  a  well-established  business  and  has 
accumulated  a  nice  competency.  He  was  married,  on  Feb.  23, 
1891,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Anna  Walker,  tor- 
merly  of  Germany,  but  now  of  Homestead,  and  they  have  four 
children:  Marie,  Jesse,  Russell  and  Kenneth.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  the  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Malta,  and  his 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  democratic  party. 

DENNIS  M.  BEHEN,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  well-known  attorney, 
wi.th  offices  in  the  Bakewell  building,  was  born  in  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  July  7,  1871,  son  of  Dennis  and  Mary  (Watterson)  Behen, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  died  in  Pittsburg,  Aug.  i,  1896, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Indiana  county,  Pa.,  and  died  on  June  18, 
1903.  Mr.  Behen  was  graduated  from  Mount  St.  Mary's  college, 
of  Emmittsburg,  Md.,  in  the  class  of  1894,  with  the  degree  of 
master  of  arts,  then  read  law  in  the  offices  of  Watterson  &  Reid, 
of  Pittsburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county, 
March  13,  1897.  He  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  the  Allegheny 
county  bar  association  and  makes  a  specialty  of  real  estate  law 
and  orphans'  court  practice,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  Duquesne  council  of  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, member  of  the  Keystone  bicycle  club  and  the  Pittsburg  lodge 
of  Elks,  and  resides  in  the  twenty-first  ward. 

JAMES  ELDER  BARNETT,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  attorney-at- 
law,  was  born  at  Elder's  Ridge,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa  ,  Aug.  i,  1856,  and 
was  graduated  from  Washington  and  Jefferson  college  in  1882.  He 
studied  law  at  the  Columbia  law  school  of  New  York  city,  taking 
the  municipal  law  course,  and  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Washington  county,  and  in  1900  to  the  Allegheny  county  bar.  He 
was  appointed  deputy  secretary  of  the  commonwealth  by  Gen. 
Frank  Reeder  and  served  in  that  capacity  from  July  i,  1895,  to  Oct. 
19,  1897,  when  he  resigned  that  office  to  return  to  his  practice.  He 
enlisted  in  the  national  guard  of  Pennsylvania  in  1884  and  rose 
through  the  various  military  grades  to  that  of  the  lieutenant- 
colonelcy,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1897.  He  volunteered  with 
his  regiment  for  service  in  the  Spanish-American  war  and  saw 
active  campaigning  in  the  Philippines,  participating  in  all  the 
engagements  of  his  regiment  during  that  insurrection,  which  con- 
tinued  until  the  capture  of  Malolos.      When    Col.   A.  L.  Hawkins 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  503 

was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  district  of  Cavite,  P.  I.,  on 
April  14,  1899,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barnett  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  regiment  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  San  Francisco,  Aug.  22,  1899,  He  succeeded 
Colonel  Hawkins  to  the  command  of  the  district  of  Cavite,  when 
the  latter  became  incapacitated  by  illness,  and  served  in  that  posi- 
tion from  May  10,  1899,  until  the  regiment  embarked  for  the 
United  States,  July  i,  1899.  Colonel  Barnett  was  nominated  for 
state  treasurer  by  the  republican  state  convention,  Aug.  24,  1899, 
and  elected  to  that  important  position  at  the  general  election  in 
the  succeeding  November. 

ADOLPH  HERMAN  SCHROEDER, 
whose  shaving  parlors  at  Homestead  are 
among  the  finest  in  Allegheny  county,  is 
a  native  of  Schulitz,  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  April  11,  1875,  and  is  the  son  of 
Emil  and  Julia  (Cromrey)  Schroeder. 
Until  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age 
he  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
town,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1889.  He  then  served  one  year  as  book- 
keeper in  the  mayor's  office  at  Schulitz, 
and  in  1890  came  to  America.  The  first 
three  years  of  his  residence  in  this  country 
was  spent  as  a  barbers'  apprentice  in  one  of  the  best  shops  of  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  then  worked  as  a  journeyman  barber 
in  several  cities  of  the  country,  among  them  Baltimore,  Boston  and 
New  York.  When  the  call  for  volunteers  was  made  in  the  spring 
of  1898,  to  serve  in  the  war  with  Spain,  Mr.  Schroeder  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  A,  47th  New  York  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  nearly  eighteen  months  in  Porto  Rico.  In  the  fall  of  1899 
he  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  Return- 
ing to  Pittsburg  in  1900  he  opened  his  present  place  of  business, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  establishments  of  its  kind  in  Homestead. 
On  June  i,  1902,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Julia,  daughter  of  Amos 
and  Annie  (Davis)  Kurtz,  of  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  and  one  little 
daughter,  Emma,  has  come  to  bless  the  union.  Mr.  Schroeder  is 
a  republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  of 
Homestead  lodge.  No.  1049,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  is  master  of  his  trade  and  his  shaving  parlors  are  patronized  by 
the  best  people  in  Homestead. 


504  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  A.  HOPE,  a  well-known  attorney  of  Pittsburg,  with 
offices  at  No.  415  Fourth  St.,  was  born  July  11,  1856,  on  what 
was  known  at  that  time  as  the  Whitaker  farm — now  the  borough 
of  Whitaker— in  Mifflin  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  He  is 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Martha  A.  (Whitaker)  Hope.  His  father 
is  the  son  of  James  and  Jane  Hope  and  was  born  in  England,  Feb. 
8,  1828,  but  came  with  his  parents  to  America  while  he  was  still  in 
his  infancy.  They  settled  in  Allegheny  county  near  what  is  now 
the  borough  of  Carnegie.  Here  the  family  has  ever  since  resided, 
Thomas  being  engaged  in  various  occupations,  such  as  coal-mining, 
farming  and  tool-dressing.  He  is  still  living  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  the  Mercer  road  near  the  town  of  Franklin.  The 
Whitaker  family  is  also  of  English  extraction.  James  Whitaker 
(at  that  time  spelled  Whiteacre),  came  over  with  Lord  Baltimore 
on  his  last  voyage  and  settled  in  Maryland.  Shortly  after  the 
Revolutionary  war  the  family  removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled 
upon  a  600-acre  tract  of  land  extending  from  Green  Springs  to  the 
Homestead  borough  line.  Upon  the  death  of  James  Whitaker,  his 
son,  Aaron,  the  great-grandfather  of  William  A.  Hope,  succeeded  to 
200  acres  of  this  land  and  cultivated  it  until  he  passed  away,  when  it 
descended  to  his  son  of  the  same  name.  Aaron,  the  second,  built 
the  old  American  furnace  in  Clarion  county,  one  of  the  first  in 
western  Pennsylvania.  In  addition  to  the  200  acres  inherited  from 
his  father's  estate,  he  became  the  possessor  of  about  800  acres  of 
iron-ore  lands  near  Sligo  Junction,  Clarion  Co.,  Pa.  He  died  in 
1847,  after  a  brief  illness,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery 
adjoining  his  farm.  During  his  life  he  took  an  active  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  county  and  was  regarded  one  of  the  most 
progressive  men  in  the  community.  His  wife  was  Anna  Dellen- 
bach,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-eight,  at  Homestead,  Pa.  Their  children  were:  Martha  A. 
(Mrs.  Hope),  Christopher  D.,  Elijah  A.  and  Eliza  (twins),  the 
latter  the  wife  of  Charles  K.  West,  of  Ohio;  Fannie,  wife  of  J.  W. 
Adams,  of  Braddock,  Pa.;  Wilbur  F.  and  Aquilla  T.,  who  died  in 
his  infancy.  Mrs.  Hope  died  July  28,  1881;  Christopher  and 
Wilbur  are  farmers,  the  former  in  Iowa  and  the  latter  in  Kansas; 
Elijah  is  a  retired  capitalist,  living  in  Oakland,  Cal.  The  children 
of  Thomas  and  Martha  A.  Hope  were:  Jennie  A.,  the  wife  of  M. 
P.  Schooley;  William  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Chris- 
topher W.,  who  died  in  1862  at  the  age  of  four  years.  He  and  his 
mother  rest  side  by  side  in  the  cemetery  at  Franklin.  William  A. 
Hope   received   his  first  schooling  in  what  was  known  as  the  old 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  505 

Scrubgrass  schoolhouse  in  Scott  township.  He  next  attended  the 
common  school  of  Franklin  and  graduated  from  the  Forbes  school, 
in  the  sixth  ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  when  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  then  admitted  to  the  Pittsburg  central  high 
school  for  a  time,  but  at  an  early  age  he  began  life  for  himself.  He 
taught  music,  worked  as  an  accountant,  held  various  other  posi- 
tions and  learned  the  trade  of  a  stair-builder.  He  was  also  for  two 
years  editor  of  the  Braddock  Herald.  From  boyhood  his  desire 
was  to  be  a  lawyer,  and  while  employed  in  the  different  avocations 
mentioned,  he  devoted  most  of  his  spare  time  to  reading  such  law 
books  as  he  could  get  hold  of  until  1875,  when  he  entered  the  office 
of  Hon.  John  H.  Kerr,  of  Pittsburg,  and  began  the  study  of  law 
in  a  regular  way.  For  three  years  he  remained  in  the  office  of  Mr. 
Kerr,  when  his  health  failed  and  he  went  west,  where  he  found 
employment  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  In  the  fall  of  1880 
he  returned  to  Pittsburg  and  renewed  his  studies,  and  in  the 
following  spring  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Alle- 
gheny county.  In  October,  1883,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
Pennsylvania  supreme  court.  During  his  twenty-one  years  of 
practice  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  he  has  attained  a  high  standing 
at  the  bar  and  has  acquired  a  large  clientage.  Most  of  his  time  is 
devoted  to  the  examination  of  titles,  though  he  does  a  general 
business  as  attorney  and  counselor-at-law.  He  was  married  at 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  Feb.  4,  1886,  to  Miss  Katie  E.  Goldman,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Jonathan  and  Marie  Goldman,  both  of  whom 
were  of  Swiss  descent,  but  were  natives  of  Berks  county.  Pa.  Mr. 
Hope  is  a  member  of  Guysuta  lodge.  No.  513,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  he  resides  in  the  borough  of  Knoxville,  where  he  is 
well  known  and  universally  respected. 

WILLIAM  E.  BEST,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  an  able  lawyer,  with 
offices  in  the  Bank  for  Savings  building,  was  born  in  that  city, 
Jan.  II,  1873,  son  of  Richard  and  Clara  (Fritch)  Best,  both  natives 
and  life-residents  of  Pittsburg.  The  Best  family  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Pittsburg  and  since  that  time  have  been  closely 
identified  with  its  advancement  and  progress.  William  E.  Best 
received  his  rudimentary  educational  training  in  the  graded  and 
high  schools  of  Pittsburg  and  later  matriculated  at  Cornell  univer- 
sity, where  he  was  graduated  in  1894.  Subsequently  he  read  law 
in  the  offices  of  Clarence  Burleigh,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county  in  March, 
1895.     Since  that  period,  Mr.  Best  has  prosecuted  his  professional 


506  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

duties  with  much  success  and  now  stands  well  at  the  bar  of  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  of  the  Allegheny- 
county  bar  association.  Mr.  Best  is  prominently  connected  with 
the  leading  fraternal  orders  and  holds  membership  in  the  Masons, 
Odd  Fellows,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  Royal 
Arcanum,  Foresters  of  America  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters.  He  was  married  in  Pittsburg,  Jan.  12,  1900,  to  Grace, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Hannah  Atkinson,  the  former  having  been 
a  prominent  citizen  and  the  first  manufacturer  of  brick  in  Alle- 
gheny county.  Mr.  Best  resides  in  the  thirty-first  ward  and  his 
home  life  is  an  ideal  one. 

JACOB  TRAUTMAN,  president  of 
the  First  National  bank  of  Homestead, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Higch,  Bavaria, 
Germany,  Feb.  18,  1S43.  His  parents, 
Adam  and  Margaret  (Redhair)  Traut- 
man,  came  to  America  in  1845.  O"^  com- 
ing to  America,  Adam  Trautman  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  and  continued  at 
this  vocation  until  he  died,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two,  in  1878.  Of  the  eight  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  Trautman, 
Margaret,  wife  of  Adam  Idle,  died  of  chol- 
era in  1849;  Susan  married  John  Miller, 
now  deceased;  Daniel  died  in  St.  Clair  township,  Allegheny  county, 
in  1876;  John  died  in  1899  at  Columbus,  Ohio;  Peter  is  a  resident 
of  Mount  Oliver,  Allegheny  county;  Frederick  died  in  Homestead 
in  November,  1901;  Jacob  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Henry 
died  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1891.  Jacob  Trautman  was  reared  in 
Columbus,  Ohio.  After  obtaining  a  common-school  education,  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  painter  and  paper-hanger  and  then  followed 
this  vocation  in  Columbus  for  eleven  years.  In  1879  he  located  in 
Homestead  and  started  in  for  himself,  being  successfully  engaged 
in  business  up  to  1889,  when  he  retired  from  active  life,  although 
he  has  since  then  been  more  or  less  actively  interested  in  real 
estate.  Mr.  Trautman's  first  wife,  Celia  (Barker)  Trautman,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  died  in  1878,  and  he  later  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Redhair,  a  native  of  Germany.  Mr.  Trautman  had  no  children 
of  his  own,  but  his  present  wife,  by  a  previous  marriage,  has  six 
children,  all  of  whom  are  now  married.  Mr.  Trautman  was  one 
of   the  organizers  of  the  First  National  bank  of  Homestead,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  507 

since  the  organization  he  has  been  a  director  and  stockholder  and 
since  1895,  president  of  the  bank.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Mifflin  Park  land  company  and  the  Mifflin  street  railway  company, 
and  is  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of  Homestead.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M. ,  Royal  Arcanum  and  Heptasophs. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


FRED    GERDTS,   of    Duquesne,   Pa., 

a  prominent  real  estate  dealer,  was  born 

in  London,  England,  May  3,  1863,  son  of 

Frederick  and  Anna  (Schumaker)  Gerdts, 

„  ^^^      natives  of  Germany  who  landed  in  Amer- 

*  ^^^      ica,   July    11,    1873,    locating    in    Mifflin 


■PHl^     ^^^^H     township  of  Allegheny  county,  opposite 
T-"*!^      ^^^V      ^°  McKeesport.       The   elder  Gerdts  was 
^  .^^^^M  J^^^m       employed   in  the  mines  of   that    vicinity 
^^^^^BSyj^^^^V         for  eight  years  and  then  went  with  the 
^^^^H^^^^^  National     tube     works,  at    McKeesport, 

^^^H^^^^  with    which    concern    he  continued  until 

his  death,  Nov.  7,  1902,  having  resided  in 
McKeesport  for  nearly  twenty  years.  Fred  Gerdts,  the  only  son 
of  his  parents,  was  reared  from  ten  years  of  age  in  Pennsylvania, 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Mifflin  township  and  McKeesport, 
and  began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  at  the 
latter  place.  He  was  engaged  in  that  capacity  for  ten  years  and  in 
1889  went  to  Duquesne,  commenced  the  grocery  business  on  his 
own  account  and  for  six  years  prospered  in  that  venture.  He  was 
unfortunate  enough  to  have  his  establishment  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
in  1895  began  his  present  real  estate  business,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  much  success.  He  was  happily  married,  Oct.  12,  1888,  to 
Susie  B.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Mills,  of  McKeesport, 
and  they  have  three  children,  viz.  :  Raymond  F.,  Robert  B.  and  Anna 
Elizabeth.  Mr.  Gerdts  is  closely  connected  with  a  number  of  lead- 
ing fraternal  orders,  holding  membership  in  the  Elks,  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Masons,  and  is  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  them 
in  their  great  works  for  the  brotherhood  of  man.  He  is  a  stanch 
republican  in  his  political  affiliations  and  opinions,  and  has  served 
as  auditor  of  the  borough  for  three  years,  borough  clerk  for  one 
year  and  is  now  filling  his  second  term  as  tax  collector.  Mr. 
Gerdts  is  also  a  notary  public  and  is  one  of  the  best-known  and  most 
popular  citizens  of  iDuquesne. 


508  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

EDWARD  SCHREINER,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  well-known 
attorney,  with  offices  at  No.  718  Prick  building,  was  born  at  Alle- 
gheny city,  Dec.  8,  1875,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Ziegler) 
Schreiner,  His  father,  born  in  Germany,  resided  there  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Allegheny  city,  where  he  has 
since  followed  the  occupation  of  a  contractor  with  much  success. 
Mr.  Schreiner  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city  and  at 
Cascadilla  preparatory  school,  and  in  the  fall  of  1895  matriculated 
at  Cornell  university,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.  Sub- 
sequently Mr.  Schreiner  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  and  was  graduated  from  that  famous  seat  of 
learning  in  1899,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan,  and  later  came  to  Pittsburg,  read 
law  in  the  office  of  J.  S.  Ferguson,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Allegheny  county,  where  he  is  a  member  of  all  courts  and  has  a 
fine  clientage.  Mr.  Schreiner  was  married  at  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
Dec.  15,  1902,  to  Ruth  Foster.  He  resides  in  the  twentieth  ward 
and  is  widely  known  throughout  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity. 

THOMAS  GRAHAM,  retail  shoe  dealer 
in  Verona,  was  born  in  Scotland.  March 
I,  1847.  His  father,  Thomas  Graham, 
was  a  blacksmith.  He  died  in  Scotland 
in  1849  and  his  wife,  Isabella  (Christy) 
Graham,  in  i860.  They  had  one  son  and 
five  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Scotland.  Thomas  Graham,  whose 
name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Scotland  and 
came  to  America  in  1872.  He  located 
first  in  Pittsburg,  then  came  a  year  later 
to  Sandy  Creek,  in  Penn  township,  where 
for  several  years  he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  shoemaker.  Coming 
to  Verona  in  1886,  he  engaged  in  the  retail  shoe  trade,  in  which 
he  has  been  most  successful.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
although  never  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  attends  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  Before  coming  to  America,  Mr.  Thomas 
was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Dobie  and  has  one  son,  Henry  D.,  who 
was  born  in  Scotland,  in  October,  1867.  He  was  married  in  1901 
and  has  one  child,  Thomas  C,  named  for  his  grandfather. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  509 

CHAUNCEY  LOBINGIER,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful 
general  practitioner  of  law,  with  offices  in  the  Park  building,  was  born 
at  Mount  Pleasant,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  July  30,  1873,  son  of  J. 
Smith  and  Mary  J.  (Cochran)  Lobingier,  both  surviving  and  resid- 
ing at  Mount  Pleasant,  Pa.  Chauncey  Lobingier  was  educated  at 
Mount  Pleasant  institute,  where  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1892,  and 
later  attended  Lafayette  college,  where  he  was  graduated  in  June, 
1896.  Then  Mr.  Lobingier  read  law  in  the  office  of  Murphy  & 
Hosack,  of  Pittsburg;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  March  23,  1900, 
and  has  since  practiced  with  much  success.  He  is  a  member  of  all 
county  and  state  courts,  of  the  Allegheny  county  bar  association, 
and  has  a  fine  practice.  Mr.  Lobingier  is  a  member  of  Duquesne 
lodge,  No.  546,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber and  secretary  of  the  Theta  Delta  Phi  association  of  western 
Pennsylvania,  member  of  the  East  End  board  of  trade,  and  resides 
in  the  twentieth  ward.  He  was  married  in  Easton,  Pa.,  Oct.  31, 
1900,  to  Isabella  Allderdice,  daughter  of  George  and  Frances 
(Houston)  Danby.  Mr.  Lobingier  is  a  member  of  the  East  Liberty 
Presbyterian  church,  and  has  served  that  organization  in  a  number 
of  official  capacities. 

HUGH  S.  CRAIG,  attorney-at-law,  is  the  son  of  William  B.  and 
Catherine  H.  (Singer)  Craig,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  the 
Keystone  state.  The  father  was  born  in  Cumberland  county  and 
his  wife  in  Pittsburg.  William  B.  Craig  is  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, though  he  has  retired  from  the  active  work  of  the  pulpit  and 
is  living,  with  his  wife,  a  retired  life  at  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  happy  in 
the  reflections  consequent  upon  a  well-spent  life.  Hugh  S.  Craig 
was  born  at  Duncannon,  Pa.,  July  19,  1864.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  and  the  Cumberland  valley  state  normal  school, 
at  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  he  graduated  from  the  Croton  military 
institute  of  Croton,  N.  Y.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Kennedy  & 
Doty,  and  on  Dec.  24,  1887,  was  admitted  to  the  Allegheny  county 
bar.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  general  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion and  during  the  sixteen  years  that  have  followed  his  admission, 
he  has  established  a  good  business.  He  is  a  member  of  all  the 
state  courts,  practices  in  the  circuit  and  district  courts  of  the  United 
States  and  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  bar  association. 
In  October,  1898,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  J.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  F.  and  Margaret  (Guthrie)  Hill,  of  Cannonsburg,  Pa., 
at  Germantown  (Philadelphia),  Pa.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union,  Thomas  S.  and  William  Boyd.     For  the  last  twenty-' 


510  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

five  years  Mr.  Craig  has  been  a  resident  of  Pittsburg,  or  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  city,  and  he  is  well  known  in  legal, 
church  and  Masonic  circles.  He  and  his  family  attend  Calvary 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  he  is  a  member  of  Hailman  lodge, 
No.  321,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  located  at  Pittsburg,  and  of 
the  Pennsylvania  consistory,  S.  P.  R.  S.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  church  and  lodge  affairs,  though  his  greatest  energies 
are  devoted  to  the  demands  of  his  noble  profession. 

JOHN  K.  LOWRY,  wholesale  liquor 
dealer  of  Homestead  and  councilman 
from  the  third  ward,  is  a  son  of  John 
Lowry,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Lovvry, 
who  came  to  America  from  Ireland  in 
1830,  and  located  in  Pittsburg,  where  he 
followed  his  vocation  as  a  weaver  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  1849.  ^^  mar- 
ried Mary  Bowman,  and  had  six  children: 
Thomas,  Samuel,  William,  Joseph,  John 
and  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Samuel  Maxwell). 
John  Lowry,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to 
America  when  an  infant,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  Pitts- 
burg. He  learned  the  saddlers'  trade,  and  has  followed  this  voca- 
tion all  his  life.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Homestead  since  1872, 
and  served  two  years  as  a  member  of  the  first  council  of  the 
borough.  He  married  Matilda  Francis  and  reared  four  children: 
Belle,  wife  of  George  Munhall;  Mary  (deceased),  John  K.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  William  (deceased).  John  K.  Lowry 
was  born  July  26,  i860,  in  Allegheny  city,  Pa.,  and  has  lived  in 
Homestead  since  1872.  After  a  common-school  education,  he 
served  a  three-year  apprenticeship  as  a  saddler  and  was  engaged  at 
this  occupation  for  twenty  years.  Since  1898  he  has  been  a  whole- 
sale liquor  dealer  at  Homestead,  and  does  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able business.  On  Feb.  18,  1881,  Mr.  Lowry  married  Jeanette, 
daughter  of  Levi  and  Hester  (Snowden)  Farquahar,  of  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowry  have  four  children:  Frank,  Alice  E., 
Blanche  M.  and  Florence  V.  Mr.  Lowry  takes  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  is  serving  his  third  term  as  a  member  of  the 
council  of  Homestead  borough.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  Homestead  lodge.  No.  1049,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  511 

ROBERT  OLIVER  YOUNG,  of 
Homestead,  Pa.,  an  old  and  highly- 
respected  citizen,  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa,,  April  24,  1847,  son  of  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  (Ewart)  Young,  both  natives 
of  Pittsburg.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  William  Young,  born  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  and  was  a  pioneer  merchant  and 
teacher  of  Pittsburg.  His  father  was  also 
a  merchant  and  teacher  of  Pittsburg  and 
died  in  that  city  in  1848.  Robert  Oliver 
Young  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  city,  where,  in  1864,  he  began  his  apprenticeship  at  the 
brick-layers'  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  1902,  when 
he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  at  Clairton,  Alle- 
gheny county,  and  is  meeting  with  much  success  in  that  venture. 
Mr.  Young  has  been  a  resident  of  Homestead  since  1881  and  is 
well  and  favorably  known  in  that  borough.  He  was  married,  on 
Sept.  17,  1878,  to  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  William  J.  and  Rose  A. 
(Coshy)  Johnson,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  three  children,  viz. : 
Olivet  v.,  Harry  L.  and  Robert  O,  J.  Mr.  Young  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Elks.  Mr.  Young  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in 
August,  1864,  in  Company  F,  193d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry, 
and  after  a  term  of  three  months  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service.  Mr.  Young  is  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  Home- 
stead, for  seven  years  was  a  member  of  the  council  and  is  a  stanch 
republican  in  his  political  views  and  affiliations. 

LAWRENCE  B.  COOK,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful  lawyer 
and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  with 
offices  at  No.  422  Fifth  Ave.,  was  born  in  Indiana  county.  Pa., 
Sept.  27,  1S70,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Lena  A.  (Wagoner)  Cook,  both 
natives  of  Indiana  county,  Pa.,  and  both  now  residing  at  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  Cook  was  educated  in  the  preliminary  courses  in  the  public 
schools  of  Pittsburg,  later  attended  a  private  academy  at  Washing- 
ton, and  completed  his  classical  training  at  Curry  institute.  Mr. 
Cook  then,  like  many  of  the  great  Americans  who  have  achieved 
success  by  their  personal  efforts,  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and 
at  the  same  time  studied  law  during  his  leisure  hours.     He  was 


512  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  county,  December,  1892,  and  has 
since  taken  a  prominent  stand  among  the  leading  attorneys  of 
Pittsburg.  Mr.  Cook  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  and  is 
a  member  of  all  state  and  federal  courts.  He  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county,  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
was  demonstrated  by  his  election  to  the  state  legislature  in  Novem- 
ber, 1902,  a  position  which  he  is  now  filling  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  his  constituents.  He  resides  in  the  sixth  ward  of  Pittsburg, 
and  is  easily  one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  of  the  city. 

JACOB  ELICKER,  of  Homestead,  Pa., 
for  many  years  a  leading  florist  of  that 
borough  and  still  prospering  in  that 
vocation,  was  born  in  Baldwin  township, 
Allegheny  county,  April  3,  1858,  son  of 
Peter  and  Catherine  (Rothar)  Elicker, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  His  father 
came  to  America  in  the  early  fifties, 
settled  in  Baldwin  township  and  was 
employed  as  a  miner  along  the  Monon- 
gahela  river  for  many  years,  and  in  later 
life  purchased  a  farm  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  for  fifteen  years. 
He  was  a  supervisor  of  Mifflin  township  for  several  years,  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  was  the  father  of  the  follow- 
ing children,  viz. :  John;  Caroline,  wife  of  Adam  Snyder;  Jacob; 
Margaret,  wife  of  Robert  Wolff;  Adam;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Robert 
Snyder;  Henry,  William,  Peter,  and  Kate,  wife  of  O.  P.  Antos. 
Jacob  Elicker  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county,  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his 
twenty-fourth  year,  having  worked  in  the  mines  since  seventeen 
years  o\  age.  Then  he  followed  carpentering  for  four  years  in 
Baldwin  township,  engaged  in  gardening  for  several  years  and  in 
1891  embarked  in  the  florist  business  on  a  small  scale  in  Mifflin 
township,  and  now  has  eight  fine  greenhouses  and  supplies  the 
leading  families  of  Homestead  and  vicinity.  Since  April,  1900,  he 
has  maintained  a  retail  store  on  Eighth  avenue  and  does  a  large 
business  in  cut  flowers.  He  was  married,  on  Sept.  23,  1879,  to 
Sophia,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Wilhelmina  (Rebke)  Drewes, 
of  Baldwin  township,  and  they  have  four  children,  viz. :  Harry,  Ida, 
Edna  and  William.  Mr.  Elicker  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order 
of    United    American    Mechanics,    the    Knights   of    Pythias,     the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  513 

Foresters  of  America,  the  Red  Men  and  the  Woodmen  of  the 
World.  His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republicans  and  he 
is  an  active  and  ardent  advocate  of  the  tenets  of  that  great  organ- 
ization. 

CHARLES  A.  LEWIS,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  and 
progressive  young  attorney,  was  born  in  Monongahela  borough, 
Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  May  12,  1871,  son  of  Albert  G.  and  Hattie  L. 
(McCurdy)  Lewis,  both  now  residing  at  Elizabethville,  Pa.  Mr. 
Lewis  secured  his  education  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of 
Elizabeth  and  then  studied  pharmacy  in  the  Western  university, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1893,  with  the  degree  of  graduate  of  phar- 
macy. Subsequently  he  studied  law  in  the  offices  of  Crumrine  & 
Patterson  and  also  of  E.  J.  Kent,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
December,  1900,  and  is  a  member  of  all  courts.  Mr.  Lewis  has 
one  of  the  best  practices  of  any  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
Pittsburg  bar  and  has  fast  gained  a  place  of  honor  and  respecta- 
bility among  the  leading  lawyers  of  Allegheny  county.  He  was 
married  at  Elizabeth,  Aug.  23,  1901,  to  Lillian  P.  Pollock,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Charles  P.,  born  Sept.  27,  1902.  Mr.  Lewis  is  a 
member  of  Stephen  Barrett  lodge.  No.  526,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Elizabeth,  and  is  prominently  identified  with 
that  great  fraternity.  He  is  also  solicitor  of  the  borough  of  Eliza- 
beth and  an  honored  citizen  of  that  community. 

WILLIAM  G.  GUILER,  attorney-at-law,  located  at  No.  432 
Diamond  St.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Pennsylvania.  In  fact,  his  ancestry  can  be  traced  back 
to  the  time  when  some  of  the  Guilers  went  from  Holland  to  Scot- 
land with  King  William  of  Orange.  From  Scotland  one  branch 
of  the  family  emigrated  to  Ireland,  settling  in  County  Derry  about 
the  year  1796.  Near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  Alexander 
Guiler,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Fayette  county.  Pa. 
There  he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death. 
His  wife  was  a  Miss  Greer,  a  native  of  Ireland.  William  Guiler,  a 
son  of  Alexander,  was  born  in  Fayette  county  in  1801  and  died 
there  in  1865.  Like  his  father,  he  was  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  His 
wife  was  Nancy  Carr.  They  had  five  children,  viz.  :  Absalom, 
Andrew,  Alexander,  Joseph  and  Mary.  Of  these,  the  second  son, 
Andrew,  is  the  only  one  now  living.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  Civil 
war  and  a  breveted  captain  by  reason  of  his  bravery  in  the  battle 
1—33 


514  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

before  Petersburg  in  1865.  Absalom  Guiler  was  born  in  1819.  He 
learned  the  tailors'  trade,  and  upon  arriving  at  man's  estate, 
became  a  merchant  tailor.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  served  as 
first  sergeant  of  Company  H,  2d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  partici- 
pating in  the  bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo  mountain,  in  which  he  was  slightly  wounded,  in  the  storm- 
ing of  the  castle  of  Chapultepec,  and  the  battle  of  Bealan  gate,  his 
regiment  being  the  first  to  enter  the  city  of  Mexico.  His  colonel 
recommended  his  appointment  to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  regular 
army,  but  he  declined  and  returned  to  his  home  and  business.  In 
the  autumn  of  1861  he  helped  to  organize  the  85th  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteer  infantry,  and  was  elected  major  of  the  regiment. 
With  his  regiment  he  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Peninsular 
campaign  until  the  hardships  and  exposures  of  war  compelled  him 
to  resign  his  commission  and  retire  from  the  army.  He  died 
April  29,  1873,  as  the  result  of  a  fall  from  his  horse  a  short  time 
before.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Jeffries,  a  native  of  Fayette 
county,  Pa.,  born  in  1820,  and  died  in  May,  1887.  The  children  of 
Absalom  and  Elizabeth  Guiler  were:  Caleb  J.,  Virginia,  William  G., 
Joseph  and  Dr.  A.  G.  Guiler.  All  are  living  except  the  daughter, 
Virginia.  William  G.  Guiler  was  born  July  20,  1847.  After  such 
a  primary  education  as  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town 
afforded,  he  attended  the  Madison  institute,  of  Uniontown,  Pa., 
and  for  the  next  two  years  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Fayette 
county.  While  thus  employed  he  spent  his  leisure  time  in  reading 
good  books  and  perfecting  himself  in  his  classical  studies.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  G.  W.  K.  Minor,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  lawyers  at  the  Fayette  county  bar,  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  courts  of  Fayette  county  in  September,  1868.  In 
1870  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Allegheny  county,  and  for  some 
time  immediately  following  his  admission  there  he  practiced  in 
Pittsburg,  but  on  account  of  failing  health  returned  to  Fayette 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1895,  returning  then  to  Pittsburg. 
While  in  Fayette  county  he  held  the  office  of  county  attorney  and 
was  prominently  mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  judge.  Both  in 
Fayette  county  and  since  coming  to  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Guiler  has  con- 
fined his  practice  to  civil  cases.  He  practices  in  all  the  local,  state 
and  federal  courts,  is  a  member  of  the  county  bar  association,  and 
has  a  large  clientage,  among  which  are  a  number  of  large  and 
important  corporations.  Mr.  Guiler  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Laura  J.  Lenhart,  to  whom  he  was  married  Dec.  22, 
1870.     She  was  the  daughter  of   Leonard   Lenhart,    a  steamboat 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  515 

builder  of  Brownsville,  Pa.  Her  death  occurred  Oct.  lo,  1884.  To 
his  first  marriage  four  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living.  They  are  Carrie,  Leonard  K.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Prince- 
ton university  and  a  law  student,  and  Mary  M.  In  August,  1886, 
he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  who  was  Miss  Emma  B. 
Newton,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  O.  E.  Newton  (deceased),  a  prominent 
phj^sician  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  One  daughter,  Margaret  Grace, 
has  been  born  to  this  second  marriage. 

HOWARD  LINHART  BLACK,  of 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  a  prominent  real  estate 
dealer,  was  born  at  Braddock,  Pa.,  June 
I,  1859,  son  of  Eslie  P.  and  Elizabeth  J. 
(Porter)  Black,  natives  of  Allegheny 
county  and  of  Irish  and  English  descent, 
respectively.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
father Black  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
emigrated  to  America,  and  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  Here  his  son,  Francis 
Black,  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was 
born.  Francis  Black  was  also  a  farmer, 
and  in  early  manhood  located  in  Iowa, 
later  went  to  Colorado  and  California,  and  died  in  the  last-named 
state  in  the  eighties  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Black  was  Francis  Porter,  a  native  of 
England,  who  came  to  America  about  1829,  located  at  Braddock, 
Allegheny  county.  Pa.,  and  there  worked  in  the  coal  mines  until 
his  death.  The  father  of  the  subject  was  reared  in  Allegheny 
county,  was  a  well-known  pilot  and  captain  on  the  Monongahela, 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  following  the  river  for  over  forty  years, 
and  dying  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-tour  years.  He  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz. : 
Jennie,  wife  of  S.  W.  Hare;  James,  Howard  L.,  Frank,  Annie, 
wife  of  E.  B.  Williams,  and  Samuel.  Howard  L.  Black  was 
reared  in  Braddock  and  Pittsburg,  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  at  Curry  institute,  and  in  1877  began  his  business  career  as 
bookkeeper  for  S.  W.  Hare  &  Co.,  plumbers  of  Pittsburg.  He 
continued  in  that  line  of  employment  until  1889,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  at  Duquesne,  where  he 
had  previously  located  in  1886.  He  has  successfully  continued  in 
that  business  to  the  present  time  and  handled  some  large  deals  in 
that  part  of  the  county.      He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Duquesne 


516  MEMOIRS   OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

by  President  Harrison  in  1889  and  satisfactorily  filled  that  ofKce 
for  five  years,  being  the  second  man  to  fill  that  position  in  the 
borough.  He  was  married,  on  Jan.  21,  1883,  to  Annie  M., 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Priscilla  (Barchfield)  Kennedy,  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  they  have  six  children:  Fannie  P.,  F.  Norman,  Bessie  L., 
Joseph  K.,  Howard  E.  and  Priscilla  J.  Mr.  Black  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum,  is  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Duquesne  land  company,  and  a  stockholder  in  the 
Duquesne  trust  company,  of  which  latter  institution  he  was  one  of 
the  promoters  and  organizers.  Mr.  Black  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  republican  party,  served  three  years  as  auditor  of  Mifflin 
township,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  substantial  citizens  of 
Duquesne. 

WILLIAM  VOKOLEK,  a  Pittsburg  attorney,  with  offices  at 
No.  424  Fourth  Ave.,  is  a  native  of  Bohemia.  His  parents  came 
to  this  country  in  1873,  and  since  that  time  his  father  has  been  a 
resident  of  New  York  city.  His  mother  died  in  New  York  in  1888. 
William  A^okolek  was  born  April  19,  1868,  and  was  therefore  but 
five  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  city,  after  which  he 
took  a  business  college  course  and  worked  three  years  as  an 
accountant.  He  entered  the  academic  department  of  the  German 
theological  seminary  of  Bloomfield,  N.  J,,  and  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1892.  He  next  attended  the  McCormick  theological 
seminary,  Chicago,  for  one  year,  then  took  a  course  of  law,  and 
graduated  from  the  Kent  college  of  law,  Chicago,  in  1895,  with 
the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Cook  county  and  the  supreme  court  of 
the  state  of  Illinois.  In  the  autumn  of  1895  he  removed  to 
Scranton,  Pa.,  and  early  in  1896  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Lacka- 
wanna county,  in  which  Scranton  is  located.  He  continued  in 
practice  at  Scranton  until  November,  1902,  and  during  that  time 
he  was  counsel  for  the  Greek  Catholic  union  of  the  United  States 
and  the  National  Slavonic  society.  In  November,  1902,  he 
removed  to  Pittsburg,  and  at  the  fall  term  of  court  was  admitted 
to  the  Allegheny  county  bar.  Since  that  time  he  has  practiced  his 
profession  in  Pittsburg.  He  is  the  attorney  for  the  National 
Slavonic  society,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Malta;  the  Union  Masonic  lodge.  No.  291,  of 
Scranton;    the    Slavonic    Presbyterian    union    and    the    Slavonic 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  517 

benevolent  union  of  the  United  States  of  America;  the  Bohemian 
gymnastic  association,  of  Allegheny  city,  and  the  Elmhurst  country 
club.  He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss 
Josephine  Chvatal,  of  Chicago.  In  1896  he  was  married  a  second 
time  to  Miss  Emily  Kriz,  also  of  Chicago.  By  his  first  wife  he 
has  one  daughter,  Josephine.  To  his  second  marriage  there  have 
been  born  four  children:  Agnes  M.,  born  at  Scranton;  Emily, 
Lillian  and  Annie.  Mr.  Vokolek  resides  at  McKeesport,  where  he 
and  his  wife  both  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  an 
accomplished  linguist,  speaking  Bohemian,  Russian,  Polish,  Ger- 
man and  English,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  Americanizing  of 
the  Slavonic  races  of  the  United  States. 

CHARLES  HENRY  VONDERA,  a 
well-to-do  citizen  of  Mifflin  township, 
Allegheny  county,  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Christina  Wilhelmina  (Heisterburg)  Von- 
dera,  and  is  of  Holland  Dutch  ancestry. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Frank  Vondera, 
was  a  native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt  and  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1849  and  located  in  Baldwin  town- 
ship, Allegheny  county,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  of  shoemaking  until 
1863,  when  he  removed  to  Mifflin  town- 
ship, and  there  lived  until  his  death. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  was  Christian  Heister- 
burg, a  native  of  Germany,  and  also  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  who 
came  to  America  in  1848  and  resided  in  Mifflin  township  until  his 
death.  Henry  Vondera,  father  of  subject,  came  to  America  in 
1847,  and  to  Mifflin  township  in  1863,  where  he  resided  on  his 
farm,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Homestead,  until  his  death 
in  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  viz.:  Christian  P.,  Frank  H. ;  Lena,  wife  of  Frank  Host; 
Charles  H. ;  Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Sorg,  and  Louisa,  wife  of 
William  J.  Hall.  Charles  H.  Vondera  was  born  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, July  5,  1865,  and  there  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  township.  He  has  followed 
gardening  and  farming  all  of  his  business  career,  has  made  a  suc- 
cess of  these  vocations,  and  has  a  good  competency.  He  was  mar- 
ried, on  Sept.  22,  1898,  to  Estella,  daughter  of  Frank  Daniels,  of 
West   Virginia,    and    they   have   one   daughter,    M.    Luella.     Mr. 


518  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

Vondera  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  his  political 
affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party.  He  is  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  public  affairs  of  the  township,  in  the  spring  of  1903 
being  elected  township  tax  collector  for  a  three-year  term,  an 
evidence  of  his  popularity, 

EVAN  JONES,  general  contractor,  has  been  for  many  years 
actively  engaged  in  the  construction  of  large  public  and  private 
works,  and  although  born  in  Wales,  has  been  a  resident  of  Pitts- 
burg since  he  was  five  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Cardiganshire, 
Wales.  Mr.  Jones  attended  the  Pittsburg  schools  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  eighteen,  and  then  learned  the  plasterers'  trade,  at  which 
he  was  engaged  for  some  ten  years.  His  career  as  a  general  con- 
tractor dates  from  1874,  his  first  work  being  in  heavy  grading  and 
sewerage  for  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  Since  that  time  he  has  done 
an  extensive  business  in  tunneling,  sewerage  and  street  paving, 
and  in  the  building  of  heavy  retaining  walls.  Among  other  works 
which  he  has  built  might  be  mentioned  the  construction  of  the 
Thirty-third  street  sewer,  the  foundation  for  the  Carnegie  build- 
ing on  Fifth  avenue,  and  the  foundations  for  the  great  trip-ham- 
mers at  the  Latrobe  works.  In  politics  Mr.  Jones  is  a  republican. 
He  served  for  six  years  in  the  common  council  of  Pittsburg  from 
the  sixth  and  fourteenth  wards,  was  for  some  five  years  member  of 
the  poll  boards  of  the  city,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  on 
the  Forbes  street  school  board,  of  which  he  is  president. 

THOMAS  C.  GABLER,  attorney-at-law,  whose  offices  are 
located  at  No.  307  Bakewell  building,  is  a  native  of  Monongahela 
township,  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  Nov.  13,  1855. 
He  is  the  son  of  Allen  K.  and  Maria  (Jones)  Gabler,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Greene  county  and  spent  their  entire  lives  there, 
the  father  dying  Jan.  5,  1896,  and  the  mother  in  January,  1879. 
Mr.  Gabler  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Greene  county, 
Waynesburg  college  and  Bethany  college,  located  at  Bethany,  W. 
Va.,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1876.  He  took  a 
scientific  course  in  the  same  institution,  after  which  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  offices  of  Wyly  &  Buchanan,  at  Waynesburg. 
In  October,  1877,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Greene  county  bar  and 
practiced  his  profession  there  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he 
removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  For  four  years  he  practiced  in  the 
Ohio  courts  with  constantly  increasing  success,  when  failing  health 
compelled   him   to  seek  a  change  of  climate  and  he  went  to  Colo- 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  519 

rado.  A  residence  of  a  year  and  a  half  among-  the  mountains 
restored  his  health  and  he  returned  to  Greene  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  practiced  until  1894,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Alle- 
gheny county  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  borough  of  Sheridan, 
for  which  he  is  the  solicitor  at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Gabler  was 
married,  on  Oct  9,  1899,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hon.  A.  A. 
Purman,  of  Waynesburg.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  11, 
B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  which  is  the  only  secret 
order  or  civic  organization  to  claim  him  as  a  member.  He 
practices  in  all  the  courts  of  the  county,  state  and  United  States. 

WILLIAM  EVANS,  who  is  now  serv- 
ing his  fifth  successive  term  as  street 
commissioner  of  Homestead,  was  born  in 
Allegheny  county,  Pa..  May  13,  1850,  son 
of  David  and  Mary  (Evans)  Evans, 
natives  of  Wales,  who  came  to  America 
in  1840  and  located  at  Sugarloaf,  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.  Here  David  Evans  was  em- 
ployed for  several  years  in  the  anthracite 
coal  mines,  and  about  1849  came  to  the 
Monongahela  river  valley,  Allegheny 
county,  where  he  was  employed  in  the 
bituminous  coal  mines  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1863.  He  reared  a  family  of  four  sons:  Reese, 
Evan,  David  and  William.  William  Evans,  the  subject  of  this 
article,  was  reared  in  Allegheny  county  and  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  When  twelve  years  old  he  began  to 
work  about  the  coal  mines,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  started  his 
apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmiths'  trade,  and  followed  that  voca- 
tion for  thirty-four  years.  He  was  employed  by  Jones  &  Laughlin 
from  1879  to  1887,  by  the  Carnegie  steel  company  from  1887  to 
1892,  and  from  1892  to  1896  had  charge  of  the  blacksmith  depart- 
ment of  the  National  tube  works,  Riverton.  Since  1880  he  has 
resided  in  Homestead,  where  he  has  valuable  property  interests, 
accumulated  by  his  own  thrift  and  industry.  On  Aug.  25,  1875, 
Mr.  Evans  married  Miss  Annie  Oxley,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Oxley,  of  Redman  Mills,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has 
two  children  living:  Thomas  H.  and  Mary.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  pro- 
gressive and  influential  citizen  of  Homestead,  and  his  long  service 
as  street  commissioner  is  an  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  in  the  community.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


520  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

EMIL  SPARR,  member  of  the  board  of  assessors  of  Allegheny 
county,  is  a  prominent  resident  of  the  thirteenth  ward,  Pittsburg, 
and  formerly  represented  his  ward  in  the  common  council.  He 
was  born  in  Berlin,  Germany,  in  1850;  came  to  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
with  his  parents  in  1852;  lived  there  until  1868,  and  then  came  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Sparr  received  his 
education  in  Rochester,  and  then  learned  the  lithographing  business, 
and  was  engaged  in  this  business  in  Pittsburg  until  1877.  After 
this  he  was  for  ten  years  fireman  in  the  Pittsburg  paid  fire  depart- 
ment, and  then  was  from  1887  to  1896  employed  as  inspector  on  the 
city  board  of  survey.  He  was  elected  to  the  Pittsburg  common 
council  in  1896,  and  was  twice  re-elected,  serving,  in  all,  six  years. 
While  in  the  council,  in  1897,  he  became  foreman  for  Keeling  & 
Ridge,  general  contractors,  and  remained  with  this  firm  until 
April,  1902,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  responsible  posi- 
tion by  Recorder  Brown.  Mr.  Sparr  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  Encampment,  and  belongs  to  the  German  Protestant 
Evangelical  church. 

HENRY  A.  MILLER  has  been  a  practicing  attorney  in  the 
courts  of  Allegheny  county  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
At  the  present  time  his  offices  are  located  at  No.  86  St.  Nicholas 
building,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  state, 
was  born  in  Butler  county,  Feb.  28,  1841,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  H.  and  Charlotta  (Weisenstein)  Miller.  Both  parents 
were  natives  of  Germany,  the  father  of  Prussia,  and  the  mother  of 
Wiirtemburg.  William  Miller  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade;  he 
came  to  America  in  his  early  manhood,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  Butler  county.  His  wife  survived  him  and  died  in. 
November,  1902,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty -nine  years. 
Henry  A.  Miller  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools^ 
the  Butler  county  academy  and  the  Weatherspoon  institute.  In 
September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  78th  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry  as  a  private,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  1865,  when 
he  was  discharged  with  the  rank  of  sergeant-major.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  located  in  Franklin,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  and  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Archibald  Blakeley  for  about  two  years,  when  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Venango  county  bar.  That  was  in  1867,  and 
he  practiced  in  that  county  until  1875,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Allegheny  county.  Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsburg,  being  a  member  of  the 
county  bar  association  and  of  all  the  courts.     He  was  married  at 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  521 

Pleasantville,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Frances  S.  Merrick.  To  this  union  two 
daughters  have  been  born:  Charlotta  and  Mary  S.  Mr.  Miller  is 
well  known  in  Masonic  circles,  being  a  member  of  Dallas  lodge, 
No.  508,  of  Pittsburg,  and  a  member  of  Pittsburg  consistory  of 
the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite.  He  resides  in  the 
twenty-first  ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg. 

WILLIAM     JOSEPH    LEADER,    of 
Duquesne,    Pa.,  a     successful    merchant 
and    a  well-known   citizen,  was  born   in 
Bedford  county,  Pa.,  Jan.  13,  1866,  son  of 
George     C.     and      Sarah     (Manspeaker) 
Leader,  both  natives  of  Bedford  county 
and    of     German    and    Scotch    descent, 
respectively.     His  paternal  grandfather, 
Daniel  Leader,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  a  lifelong  farmer  of    Bedford 
county,    and   his    maternal  grandfather, 
George  Manspeaker,  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Bed- 
ford, where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.     George  C.  Leader,  father 
of  the  subject,  was  a  brick  and  stone  mason  and  a  life-resident  of 
Bedford  county,  where  he  died,  Dec.  5,  1902,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.     He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  he 
served   about  eighteen   months,   and  was  the  father  of  fourteen 
children,  ten   of   whom    grew    to    maturity,    viz.  :  Lottie,    wife    of 
William    Shook;    Mary,    wife   of    Frank    Yarnell;    Sallie,    Daniel, 
Clayton,  George,  William  J.;  Belle,   wife  of  John  Foor;  John  g! 
and    Lavinia.     William   J.    Leader   was   reared   in    Bedford,   Pa. ; 
attended  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  and  there  learned  the 
brick-layers'  trade  under  his  father,  which  he  successfully  followed 
until  September,  1897,  six  years  of  which  time  was  devoted  to  con- 
tracting  at    Duquesne    and    Homestead.       Among  the  many  fine 
structures  erected   by  him   may  be  mentioned  the  high  school  of 
Homestead,  a  similar  building  at  Munhall,  and  many  of  the  princi- 
pal business  blocks  and  dwellings  of  Homestead  and  vicinity.     He 
came  to  Allegheny  county  in  1886 ;  has  been  a  resident  of  Duquesne 
since  1891,  where  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  in 
1897,  which  he  has  successfully  continued  to  the  present  time.     He 
was   married,  on   Jan.    12,  1893,  to    Mary,    daughter   of   Christian 
Dierstein,  of  Duquesne,  and  has  three  children,  viz.  :  Joseph    K., 
Elizabeth;and  Frederick.      Mr.  Leader  is  a  member  of  Vesta  lodge,. 


522  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

No.  352,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  held  the  office  of  financial 
secretary  for  two  years;  member  of  the  Duquesne  lodge,  No.  64, 
uniform  rank,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  served  as  lieutenant 
for  two  years  and  as  captain  for  three  years;  Eclipse  lodge, 
No.  892,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Foresters  of  America, 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  While  engaged 
in  the  business  of  contracting,  Mr.  Leader  built  the  main  sewer 
for  Duquesne,  did  the  first  street  paving,  built  the  retaining  wall 
for  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  along  Duquesne  avenue,  between 
Grant  street  and  Oliver  station,  and  erected  many  of  the  principal 
buildings  of  the  borough.  Mr.  Leader's  political  affiliations  are 
with  the  republican  party,  and  he  takes  great  interest  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  section  of  the  country. 

HAROLD  A.  MILLER,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful 
general  practitioner  of  medicine,  was  born  in  Alliance,  Ohio, 
Sept.  20,  1873,  son  of  Addison  Miller,  now  a  resident  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  his  wife,  K.  H.  (Thompson)  Miller.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Allegheny  county,  the  Pennsylvania  state,  the  Fort  Pitt  and 
the  West  Pennsylvania  medical  societies,  the  Pittsburg  pathological 
society,  the  medical  staff  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  hospital,  and 
is  the  medical  director  of  the  Pittsburg  life  and  trust  company. 

DR.  ROBERT  W.  McCLELLAND,  a  prominent  homoeopathic 
physician,  residing  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  that 
city,  June  22,  1857.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  his  father  a 
native  of  Ireland,  coming  to  this  country  in  1816,  and  settling  in 
Pittsburg.  He  was  an  architect  and  contractor,  and  was  the 
designer  and  builder  of  some  of  the  finest  buildings  erected  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg  during  the  active  period  of  his  chosen  life-work. 
He  was  also  postmaster  of  Pittsburg  from  1867  to  187 1.  Dr. 
McClelland,  after  attending  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 
spent  two  years  at  Lafayette  college,  preparatory  to  the  study  of 
medicine,  followed  by  a  course  of  study  at  Cornell  university,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  in  1882  with  the  degree  of  bachelor 
of  science.  He  further  pursued  the  study  of  medicine  at  the 
Hahnemann  medical  college,  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  honors  in  1884.  After  graduation  he  went  abroad 
from  time  to  time  to  secure  the  advantage  of  special  work  in  for- 
eign hospitals,  a  part  of  this  work  being  a  special  course  in 
orthopedics  under  Professor  Wolff,  of  Berlin,  and  later  a  clinical 
course  under  Dr.  Lorenz,  of  Vienna.     Returning  to  Pittsburg,  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  523 

began  the  practice  of  general  medicine  and  surgery,  in  connection 
with  his  two  brothers,  Drs.  J.  H.  and  J.  B.  McClelland,  with  whom 
he  is  still  associated.     He  is  a  member  of  the  orthopedic  staff  in 
the    Homoeopathic    hospital   of   Pittsburg,   and   is  the  lecturer  on 
anatomy  and  physiology  to  the  training  school  for  nurses,  which  is 
carried   on  in   connection  with   the  hospital;  is  a  member  of  the 
Allegheny  county  homoeopathic  medical  society,  the  Pennsylvania 
state  medical  society,  the  American  institute  of  homoeopathy,  the 
East  End  doctors'  club,  the   University  club,    the   Pittsburg  golf 
club,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Cornell  club  of  western 
Pennsylvania.     He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Franklin  lodge.  No.  221,  and  the  Pennsylvania  consistory, 
A.  and  A.  Scottish  Rite.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Third  Pres- 
byterian church  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg.     In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  while  taking  no  active  part  in  political  work,  has  been 
at  all  times  interested  in  matters  of  public  welfare.     His  brother. 
Dr.  James   H.  McClelland,  with   whom   he    is   associated,    is  well 
known  over  the  country  as  a  leading  surgeon.     After  graduation  in 
1867  from  the  Hahnemann  medical  college,  of  Philadelphia,  Dr. 
J.  H.  established  himself  in   general  practice  in  Pittsburg,  where 
he  is  now  associated  with  his  two  brothers.     He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Pittsburg  homoeopathic  hospital,  a  member 
of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  same  institution,  and  was  actively  inter- 
ested in  the  erection  of  the  buildings  now  occupied  by  the  hospital. 
He  was  instrumental  in  founding  the  first  training  school  for  nurses 
in  this  city.     He  has  been  successively  president  of  the  following 
organizations:  the  Allegheny  county  homoeopathic  medical  society, 
the  Pennsylvania  state  homoeopathic  medical  society,  the  American 
institute  of  homoeopathy,  which  office  he  held  in  1892,  and  the  East 
End  doctors'  club.     He  is  ex-vice-president  of  the  Association  of 
health  authorities,  of  which  the  governor  of  the  state  is  president ; 
a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  state  board  of  health,  the  Sanitary 
commission  of  Allegheny  county,  the  American  public  health  asso- 
ciation, the  Pittsburg  golf  club,  the  University  club,  and  was  vice- 
president  of  the  Hospital  Staff  association  of  western  Pennsylvania. 
From  1876  to  1878  he  was  professor  of  surgery  in  the  Hahnemann 
medical  college,   of   Philadelphia,  and  subsequently    lectured   on 
operative  surgery  in  the  Boston  university  school  of  medicine.     In 
conclusion,  it  may  be  said  that  the  firm  of  the  Drs.  McClelland  is 
highly  respected,  and  has  always  occupied  a  prominent  position  in 
the  community. 


524  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

WILLIAM  ALVAH  STEWART,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Tioga  county.  Pa.,  June  14,  1862.  Dr.  Stewart  was 
educated  in  the  high  schools  of  western  New  York,  then  entered 
the  State  normal  school  of  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1885.  The  six  years  following  his  graduation 
were  devoted  to  teaching.  In  189 1  he  matriculated  at  the  New 
York  homoeopathic  medical  college  and  hospital,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  graduated  in  1894.  After  serving  two  years  as  interne 
in  Flower  hospital,  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
engaged  in  practice  until  1901.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
located  in  Pittsburg.  His  specialty  is  gynecology  and  general 
surgery.  He  is  a  member  of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  department 
of  gynecology  of  the  Pittsburg  homoeopathic  hospital.  Dr.  Stewart 
is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  and  Pennsylvania  state 
medical  societies,  the  American  institute  of  homoeopathy,  the  New 
York  state  homoeopathic  medical  society,  and  the  Homoeopathic 
medical  society  of  Washington,  D.  C.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Duquesne  club  and  the  East  End  doctors'  club.  He  is  a  fourteenth- 
degree  Mason  and  a  Mystic  Shriner. 

LEWIS  E.  DAVIS,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  leading  phy- 
sician, was  born  on  Davis  island,  Allegheny  county,  Oct.  6,  1855, 
son  of  James  and  Nancy  (Burns)  Davis,  his  father  having  been 
a  gardener  and  fruit-grower  and  died  in  1896.  His  mother  was  born 
in  West  End,  Pittsburg.  Her  father  came  from  Scotland  and  her 
mother  from  Wales.  Dr.  Davis'  paternal  grandfather  was  a  native 
of  Wales,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1796  and  after  living  at 
different  places  settled  on  an  island  which  he  named  "Davis" 
after  himself,  and  where  Mr.  Davis'  father,  two  sisters  and  three 
brothers  were  born.  The  paternal  grandmother  of  Dr.  Davis  was 
also  from  Wales  and  was  a  descendant  of  Lord  Llewellyn,  a  noted 
man  of  that  country.  Dr.  Davis  was  educated  in  the  elementary 
branches  in  the  public  schools  of  Robinson  township,  received 
special  courses  from  Dr.  John  D.  Davis,  of  Marshall  township,  with 
whom  he  read  medicine  for  five  years,  entered  Jefferson  medical 
college  and  was  graduated  from  that  famous  institution  in  1881. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  under  his  former  preceptor. 
Dr.  Davis,  where  he  remained  for  one  year  and  then  went  to 
Wisconsin.  After  practicing  in  the  Badger  state  for  some  time, 
he  went  to  Pittsburg  and  practiced  in  the  twenty-third  ward  until 
1899,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  location.  No.  317  South  Craig 
St.     Dr.  Davis   enjoys   a   large    general   practice  but  devotes  the 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  525 

greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  rectum.  He  attended  special  post- 
graduate courses  at  the  Post-Graduate  college,  of  New  York  city, 
in  1899  and  1901-02,  giving  his  attention  to  diseases  of  the  rectum 
and  to  surgery.  He  is  on  the  medical  staff  of  Passavant  hospital, 
examiner  for  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  was  surgeon  for  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  railroad  for  five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny 
county,  the  Pennsylvania  state  and  the  American  medical  associa- 
tions and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knight  Templar  Masons,  the 
republican  party  and  the  Christian  church  of  Alder  street.  He  was 
married,  in  1887,  to  Sarah  D.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Berry)  Figley,  of  Pittsburg,  and  they  have  four  children:  Marion 
Elizabeth,  Lewis  Elwood,  Clark  Bane  and  John  Duff. 

ROBERT  W.  CLARK,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  successful 
general  practitioner  of  medicine,  was  born  near  Lancaster,  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  Aug.  2,  184S,  son  of  Alexander  Scott  and 
Isabelle  Jane  (Neeper)  Clark,  his  father  having  been  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  his  ancestors  on  both  sides  having  come  to  America 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  paternal  great-grandfather, 
Thomas  Clark,  was  a  native  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  when 
three  years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to  America,  settling  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  the  family  have  since  lived,  the 
original  farm  being  now  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants.  Dr.  Clark 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  academy  of  Lancaster 
and  then  spent  one  year  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  one 
year  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  then  returned  to  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  graduated  from  the 
medical  department  in  187 1.  For  the  next  year  he  was  resident 
physician  of  the  Philadelphia  hospital,  then  went  to  Tuscarawas 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  for  one  and  a  half  years.  He 
next  removed  to  Dunbar,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  for  seventeen 
years  met  with  much  success  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
that  city.  For  the  next  eight  years  Dr.  Clark  was  engaged  in  the 
practice  at  Uniontown,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1898  came  to  Pitts- 
burg and  now  has  a  splendid  standing  among  the  physicians  of  that 
city.  He  is  medical  examiner  for  the  Penn  mutual  life  and  other 
insurance  companies  and  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county  and 
Pennsylvania  state  medical  associations,  member  and  ex-president 
of  the  Fayette  county  medical  society,  and  was  surgeon  for  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  from  1875  ^o  1887.  He  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  Masons,  being  a  Knight  Templar  and  Shriner, 
and  is  an  ardent  member  of  the  republican  party.     Dr.  Clark  was 


526  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

married,  in  1886,  to  Ella,  daughter  of  J.  J.  and  Roseanna  (Ankeny) 
Schell,  her  father  being  president  of  the  banks  at  Somerset  and 
Berlin,  Pa.,  and  a  prominent  figure  in  the  financial  world.  Her 
ancestors  are  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Somerset  county, 
founded  the  town  of  Somerset  and  are  still  prominent  in  its  affairs. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  two  children:  Robert  W. ,  Jr.,  and  Eleanor 
Schell,  students  of  the  schools  of  Pittsburg  and  vicinity. 

LEWIS  W.  WILSON,  real  estate  and  insurance  agent  at 
No.  3741  Boquet  St.,  Pittsburg,  was  born  May  15,  1847,  son  of 
William  and  Eliza  (Harris)  Wilson.  William  Wilson  was  a  native 
of  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  and  son  of  Frederick  Wilson.  Lewis  W. 
Wilson  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Fayette  county,  and  when 
twenty-one  years  old  began  dealing  in  real  estate.  When  a  young 
man,  he  was  also  interested  in  manufacturing  in  Fayette  county, 
but  moved  to  McKeesport  in  the  early  seventies,  and  later  to  Pitts- 
burg, where  he  is  still  in  business.  When  East  Pittsburg  became 
a  place  of  importance,  he  opened  an  office  on  Cable  avenue,  near 
Braddock  avenue,  where  he  conducts  a  flourishing  business  in 
insurance  and  real  estate.  Mr.  Wilson  is  agent  for  the  New  York 
life  insurance  company,  and  writes  for  several  fire  insurance  com- 
panies. On  Jan.  22,  1872,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Melinda,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Jane  (Campbell)  Schnatterly,  old  settlers  of  Fayette 
county.  Of  the  children  born  of  this  union,  Pleassie  is  the  wife  of 
W.  G.  Roden,  a  jeweler  in  Pittsburg;  Emma  is  married  to  H.  H. 
Howard,  and  lives  in  Pittsburg,  and  William  Wood  is  manager  of 
the  Bell  telephone  exchange  at  Charleroi.  Mr.  Wilson  and  family 
are  members  of  the  Uniontown  Baptist  church. 

DR.  GEORGE  C.  JOHNSTON,  a  prominent  Pittsburg  physician 
and  X-ray  specialist,  was  born  in  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  April  3,  1869. 
He  is  the  son  of  George  N.  and  Emma  (Coffin)  Johnston.  His 
father  is  a  well-known  Presbyterian  minister,  holding  the  degree 
of  doctor  of  divinity,  and  is  now  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Shields,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  but  his  mother  died  in  1899. 
Dr.  Johnston  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Steubenville,  Ohio.  After  a  three  years'  course  in  the  Washing- 
ton and- Jefferson  college,  at  Washington,  Pa.,  he  took  a  special 
course  in  chemistry  in  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania 
preparatory  to  the  study  of  medicine,  and  graduated  from  the 
Western  Pennsylvania  college  of  medicine  in  1896.  Immediately 
after  his  graduation  he  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine  in 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  527 

the  city  of  Pittsburg  and  continued  in  that  line  until  1900,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  devoting  his  time  and  attention  to  X-ray 
work.  He  holds  the  position  of  radiographer  to  the  St.  John's  and 
Children's  hospitals  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  and  is  professor  of 
electro-physics  in  the  Western  Pennsylvania  medical  college.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  medical  societies  of  Allegheny  county  and  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  the  American  medical  association,  the 
American  society  of  electro-therapeutics,  the  Western  Pennsylvania 
medical  society,  the  alumni  association  of  the  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania college.  Alpha  chapter  of  the  Phi  Beta  Pi,  and  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Tri-State  medical  society.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  holding  his  membership  in  Pittsburg  lodge. 
No.  484.  Dr.  Johnston  is  a  contributor  to  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Medical  Journal,  American  iNIedicine,  Advanced  Therapeutics,  and 
various  other  medical  and  scientific  journals,  and  is  regarded  as  an 
authority  upon  all  questions  touching  his  specialty.  He  was 
married,  in  1898,  to  Miss  Ida  B,  Davis,  of  Pittsburg,  a  daughter  of 
Gustavus  C.  and  Lottie  (Caskey)  Davis,  whose  ancestors  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  country.  They  have  one  little  daughter, 
Dorothy  Davis  Johnston.  Dr.  Johnston  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg.  In  con- 
nection with  a  sketch  of  Dr.  Johnston,  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
his  maternal  ancestors  were  among  the  pilgrims  who  came  over  on 
the  "Mayflower"  in  the  winter  of  1620. 

EDWARD  R.  GREGG,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  Feb.  24,  1S70, 
son  of  R.  R.  and  Hattie  (Williams)  Gregg,  his  father  having  been 
a  prominent  physician  of  Buffalo  until  his  death  in  1886,  and  his 
mother  is  now  residing  in  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Gregg  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  graduated  at  the  Buffalo  high 
school  in  1889  and  then  entered  Hahnemann  medical  college  at 
Philadelphia,  were  he  was  graduated  in  1892.  Later  he  attended  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  Philadelphia  polyclinic  and  was  surgeon 
to  the  Hahnemann  medical  college  dispensary  during  that  year. 
Then  he  went  to  Pittsburg  as  house  surgeon  of  the  Homoeopathic 
hospital  and  served  for  two  years  in  that  capacity.  The  next  year 
was  devoted  to  taking  special  courses  in  Berlin,  and  Dr.  Gregg 
returned  to  Pittsburg  in  1895  to  resume  general  practice.  He  was 
appointed  staff  surgeon  in  the  Homoeopathic  hospital,  which  position 
he  now  holds  in  connection  with  the  secretaryship  of  the  medical 
board  of  that  institution.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  county 


528  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

and  the  Pennsylvania  state  homceopathic  medical  societies,  the 
American  institute  of  homoeopathy,  the  surgical  and  gynecological 
department  of  the  foregoing,  honorary  member  of  the  Dunham 
medical  society,  of  Chicago;  member  of  the  East  End  doctors'  club 
and  surgeon  for  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie  railroad  and  Pittsburg 
railway  company.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  the  Arctic  Brotherhood  of  Alaska.  In  December,  1897,  he 
started  for  Alaska  with  two  companions,  sailing  around  South 
America  and  experiencing  a  shipwreck  on  the  coast  of  Patagonia. 
Then  they  sailed  around  Cape  Horn  to  Seattle,  where  one  of  the 
party  remained,  Dr.  Gregg  going  to  Alaska,  where  he  spent  two 
years,  and  one  year  in  Rampart  city,  where  he  was  surgeon  of  the 
town  hospital.  Next  he  went  to  Nome,  and  there  was  municipal 
and  United  States  health  officer,  and  surgeon  to  the  city  hospital. 
He  remained  at  Nome  until  November,  1900,  when  he  returned  to 
Pittsburg  and  resumed  his  practice  of  general  surgery  and  gyne- 
cology. While  in  Nome  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization 
of  a  civil  government  and  helped  to  form  a  well-ordered  city  out  of 
chaos.  Dr.  Gregg's  ancestors  came  to  America  from  Scotland  early 
in  the  eighteenth  century  and  his  great-great-grandfather,  Capt. 
James  Gregg,  was  a  militia  officer  in  the  patriot  army  during  the 
struggle  of  the  colonies  to  wrest  independence  from  the  mother 
country. 

J.  C.'DUNN,  M.  D,,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  prominent  physician 
and  dermatologist,  was  born  in  Pictou  county.  Nova  Scotia,  in 
December,  1847,  son  of  William  and  Catherine  C.  (Mcintosh) 
Dunn,  both  natives  of  Nova  Scotia  and  descendants  from  Scotch 
ancestry.  His  father  was  a  millwright  and  farmer,  and  was  a 
soldier  of  Great  Britain  who  came  to  America  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  later  settled  in  Nova  Scotia.  Dr.  Dunn  was  edu- 
cated in  the  scientific  and  classical  courses  of  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town  and  at  the  Pictou  academy.  He  taught  school  in 
Nova  Scotia  for  three  years  and  was  principal  of  the  schools  at 
Stellartown  when  he  withdrew  from  that  avocation.  He  entered 
the  Jefferson  medical  college  at  Philadelphia,  was  graduated  in 
187 1  and  immediately  began  a  general  practice  in  Pittsburg.  Dr. 
Dunn  continued  as  a  general  practitioner  until  1886,  when  he 
confined  his  practice  to  dermatology,  and  since  has  achieved  unusual 
success  in  that  specialty.  He  was  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  St. 
Francis  hospital  for  several  years,  is  dermatologist  and  physician 
to  West   Pennsylvania  hospital,  dermatologist  to  St.  Francis  hos- 


MEMOIRS    GF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  529 

pital,  consulting-  obstetrician  at  Rheineman  hospital,  consulting 
dermatologist  at  Pittsburg  free  dispensary,  in  charge  of  the 
dermatological  work  at  the  West  Pennsylvania  college  dispensary, 
professor  of  clinical  dermatology,  materia  medica  and  therapeutics 
at  the  Western  Pennsylvania  medical  college.  Dr.  Dunn  is  a  member 
and  ex-president  of  the  Allegheny  county  medical  society,  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  state  and  the  American  medical  associa- 
tions, the  Pittsburg  academy  of  medicine,  the  American  association 
of  obstetricians  and  gynecologists,  ex-member  of  the  American 
public  health  association,  honorary  member  and  ex-president  of 
the  West  Pennsylvania  hospital  staff,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Austin  Flint  medical  society  of  East  End,  Pittsburg.  Dr.  Dunn 
is  identified  with  a  number  of  the  prominent  fraternal  orders, 
holding  membership  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  the  Protected  Home  Circle  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 
He  was  a  member  and  president  of  the  board  of  health  of  Pittsburg 
for  several  years  and  is  a  member  of  the  republican  party.  Dr. 
Dunn  is  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg, 
has  been  a  member  of  its  sessions  for  thirty  years,  was  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sabbath-school  and  delegate  to  the  general  assembly 
which  met  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  married,  in  1872,  to 
Juliette  Thalia,  daughter  of  Edward  G.  and  Wilhelmina  DuBarry, 
whodied  June  22,  1903,  after  a  protracted  illness.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  and  was  a  machinist  and  her  mother  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  early  life,  settled  at 
Economy,  Allegheny  county,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Pitts- 
burg. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dunn  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.  :  John  Sidney,  a  student  at  Westminster 
college,  and  George  DuBarry,  a  student  at  East  Liberty  academy. 
Dr.  Dunn  has  made  an  unqualified  success  of  his  career  and  stands 
high  as  a  physician  and  as  a  man. 

GEORGE  HOGG,  contractor  and  builder,  who  resides  at 
No.  514  Fourth  St.,  Braddock,  is  a  progressive  Scotchman  who  was 
born  in  Carnoustie,  May  7,  185 1,  son  of  George  and  Isabel 
(Matthenson)  Hogg.  He  was  educated  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  and 
learned  the  stone-masons'  trade,  and  served  for  many  years  with 
Brown  &  Sons,  extensive  contractors  of  that  place.  Mr.  Hogg  was 
married,  Dec.  31,  1873,  to  Jessie,  daughter  of  William  and  Agnes 
(Eadie)  Latto,  of  St.  Andrews,  Scotland,  and  resided  in  Dundee 
until  1880,  when  he  came  to  America  and  located  in  Braddock. 
He  has  secured  an  extensive  patronage  as  a  lumber  dealer,  con- 

1-34 


530  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

tractor  and  builder  during  his  long  residence  in  that  city.  Most  of 
the  schoolhouses  in  Braddock  and  nearby  boroughs  were  erected  by 
Mr.  Hogg,  as  were  many  other  public  buildings.  He  also  built 
the  Westinghouse  electrical  works  at  East  Pittsburg,  which  are  the 
largest  of  their  kind  in  the  world,  with  a  ground  space  i,ooo  by 
430  feet.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hogg  are:  William  M,, 
mentioned  below;  Georgiana,  who  died  in  infancy;  David  M.,  in 
the  class  of  1903,  Western  university;  Agnes,  at  home;  Isabelle, 
in  the  class  of  1904,  Braddock  high  school;  George,  Jr.,  a  student 
at  Shady  Side  academy;  Charles  and  Jessie,  attending  the  Brad- 
dock schools.  Mr.  Hogg  is  a  member  of  Braddock  Field  lodge, 
No.  510,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  Shiloh  chapter,  No.  257,  R.  A.  M. ;  Tancred 
commandery,  No.  48,  Knights  Templars;  Pennsylvania  consistory, 
of  the  Scottish  Rite;  Syria  temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  of  M.  S. ;  Brad- 
dock Field  lodge.  No.  529,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  B.  P.  O.  Elks  of  Pitts- 
burg. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Monongahela  club,  of  Pittsburg, 
and  is  generally  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Braddock.  William  M.  Hogg,  son  of  George 
Hogg,  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  May  19,  1875.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  1880,  and  received  a  grammar-school 
education  in  the  Braddock  schools.  He  then  learned  the  brick-lay- 
ing  trade  with  his  father,  and  worked  at  the  trade  four  years. 
He  has  since  been  employed  in  the  counting-room  and  other  depart- 
ments, and  on  Jan.  i,  1902,  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  the 
George  Hogg  company.  He  belongs  to  the  same  lodges  as  his 
father,  except  that  he  is  a  member  of  the  Wilkinsburg  Elks, 
No.  577,  and  is  also  a  member  of  several  other  secret  societies. 
He  was  married,  Jan.  i,  1898,  to  Amelia  Jane,  daughter  of  Frank 
and  Lucy  Bridges,  who  were  formerly  residents  of  Johnstown. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  M.  Hogg  have  two  children :  Lucile,  born 
Nov.  23,  1898,  and  Wallace  Bruce,  born  Jan.  i,  1901. 

PROF.  W.  E.  EICKEMEYER,  principal  of  the  Bethlehem 
German  Lutheran  Evangelical  school,  in  the  eastern  district  of  the 
Ohio  synod,  thirty-first  ward  of  Pittsburg,  was  born  Oct.  25,  1881, 
in  Bornholm,  Ontario,  Canada.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Emma 
Eickemeyer,  natives  of  Canada  and  of  German  descent.  To  them 
were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
eldest.  Professor  Eickemeyer  was  educated  in  the  Lutheran 
parish  schools  of  Marysville,  Ohio,  and  in  the  Woodville  seminary, 
where  he  took  a  course  in  languages.  He  devoted  many  hours  a 
day  to  the  study  of  music,  in  which  he  became  proficient  both  as  a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  531 

teacher  and  as  a  chorister,  and  is  at  present  the  organist  and 
chorister  in  the  Lutheran  church  in  Allentown,  as  well  as  a  teacher 
of  music  in  the  city.  His  parents  live  at  Marysville,  Ohio,  where 
his  father  is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  and  manufacturers  of 
that  town.  Mr.  Eickemeyer  came  to  Pittsburg  in  September, 
1901,  and  assumed  the  position  of  principal  in  the  parochial 
school.  He  is  recognized  as  an  accomplished  young  man,  a 
thorough  teacher,  and  has  already  done  much  for  his  church,  his 
school  and  the  community. 

HENRY  B.  NAYLOR,  son  of  Harry  and  Annie  M.  (Baldwin) 
Naylor,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  April  19,  1864.  His  father  was 
born  in  Manchester,  England,  in  March,  1836,  and  came  to 
America  in  1859,  locating  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
oil-refining  business.  Later  he  removed  to  Oil  City,  where  he  died 
March  15,  1903.  The  mother,  Annie  M.  Baldwin,  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  in  1840,  and  went  with  her  parents  to  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  Naylor  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Oil  City, 
and  later  prepared  himself  for  his  remarkably  successful  business 
career  through  the  correspondence  school  of  the  Scranton  engineer- 
ing college.  Mr.  Naylor's  first  work  was  that  of  machinist,  a 
trade  he  had  learned  in  Oil  City  and  followed  for  twelve  years,  the 
learning  and  mastering  of  the  trade  in  Oil  City  occupying  three 
years.  He  then  was  with  the  Westinghouse  company,  of  Pitts- 
burg, three  years,  and  four  years  with  the  Mcintosh-Hemphill  com- 
pany, of  Pittsburg.  Later  he  became  superintendent  of  the  Second 
National  bank  building,  and  in  1900  he  became  superintendent  of 
all  the  property  of  Henry  Phipps,  the  millionaire  capitalist  and 
philanthropist,  in  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny.  Mr.  Naylor  has  charge 
of  all  buildings,  erection  of  new  ones,  rents  and  contracts,  hiring, 
and  the  like.  He  is  now  erecting  for  Mr.  Phipps  the  thirteen-story 
Bessemer  building,  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  street  and  Duquesne  way, 
and  the  Phipps  power  house,  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Naylor  was  president 
of  the  board  of  school  control  for  the  first  ward,  Allegheny,  where 
he  has  resided  since  1898.  He  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  establish- 
ment, by  the  first  ward  board  in  1900,  of  the  Allegheny  training 
school,  of  which  Mr.  Hoyt  is  principal.  This  is  one  of  the  finest 
schools  of  its  kind  in  the  state  connected  with  the  public  schools, 
and  Mr.  Naylor  has  given  it  much  attention  and  has  shown  the 
greatest  interest  in  its  success,  not  only  in  its  establishment,  but  in 
all  its  work  since.  In  1902  Mr.  Phipps  erected  a  fine  two-story 
brick  building,  known  as  the   Phipps  gymnasium  and  playground, 


532  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

and  in  this  institution  also  Mr.  Naylor  has  taken  an  important 
part.  It  is  a  public  institution  containing  free  baths  and  reading- 
rooms  open  to  all.  Mr.  Naylor  has  taken  up  the  cause  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  ward,  and  to  him  more  than  to  any  other  man  in  the 
ward  are  due  the  excellent  advantages  enjoyed  by  young  and  old. 
Mr.  Naylor  is  a  republican  in  politics,  is  a  member  of  the  citizens' 
party,  interested  in  party  reform  in  the  county,  and 'in  favor  of 
good,  clean  administration  in  public  offices.  Mr.  Naylor  is  a 
Mason,  belonging  to  Allegheny  lodge.  No.  223;  Allegheny  chapter. 
No.  217;  No.  35,  Knights  Templars,  and  to  Syria  temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Pittsburg;  also  to  No.  25,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
Allegheny,  of  which  he  is  past  master  workman.  Mr.  Naylor  was 
married,  on  Dec.  2,  1882,  to  Mary  Ada  Wolf,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  King  Wolf,  of  Armstrong  county,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith. 
They  were  married  by  Rev.  Dr.  Sloan,  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  now  reside  in  the  fifteenth  ward,  Allegheny.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Central  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  is  also  a 
trustee.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Naylor  were  married  April  20,  1863, 
and  have  seven  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
oldest,  the  others  being:  Mazie,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Oil  City;  Delia  Baldwin,  married  to  Fred  M.  Morgan,  living  in 
Denver,  Col.  ;  James  D.,  of  Pittsburg;  Annie  M.,  at  home;  John  A., 
of  Uniontown,  Pa.,  and  Bernice  U.,  living  with  Mr.  Naylor  in 
Allegheny.  Mr.  Naylor  is  a  splendid  example  of  physical  man- 
hood, and  shows  his  English  lineage  in  his  sturdy  physique.  He 
makes  stanch  friends  and  some  enemies.  His  progress  has  been 
rapid,  and  he  has  climbed  the  ladder  of  success  by  hard  work  and 
faithful,  conscientious  attention  to  duty. 

THOMAS  PROSSER,  general  contractor  in  Carnegie,  with  an 
extensive  business  in  street-paving,  building  sewers  and  excavat- 
ing, was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  March  24,  1846.  His 
father,  Thomas  Prosser,  came  to  America  in  1871,  and  died  in  1881 
at  the  age  of  seventy.  His  wife,  Mary  Ann  Prosser,  died  in  Eng- 
land, March  8,  1867,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one.  Thomas  Prosser,  Sr. , 
was  a  miner  in  England,  and  continued  to  work  in  the  mines  after 
coming  to  America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Prosser  had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Thomas,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  two 
others  are  living:  James,  a  miner,  who  resides  in  Carnegie,  and 
Jane,  who  married  George  Betz.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
educated  in  England,  and  followed  coal-mining  there.  Coming 
to  America  in    1868,  he  settled  near  Sharon,  Pa.,  where  he  was 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  533 

engaged  in  mining  for  fifteen  years,  and  then  turned  his  attention 
to  the  contracting  business,  in  which  he  has  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess. His  contracts  amount  to  between  $40,000  and  $50,000  yearly, 
and  he  employs  from  thirty-five  to  forty  men  most  of  the  time. 
Mr.  Prosser  has  done  much  valuable  work  in  Carnegie  and  nearby 
towns,  but  most  of  his  contracts  are  for  improvements  in  Pittsburg 
and  Allegheny.  Prior  to  his  coming  to  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Prosser 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Cox,  of  Staffordshire,  their  mar- 
riage occurring  on  June  7,  1867.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Hannah  Cox,  both  of  whom  lived  and  died  in  England,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Prosser  have  had  ten  children  born  to  them,  viz. :  Thomas, 
a  resident  of  Carnegie,  who  married  Miss  Musgrave,  and  has  six 
children:  Kate,  Lillie,  Jennie,  Edna,  Thomas  and  George; 
Jennie  M,,  who  married  William  Tatterdale,  a  steel-worker,  and 
has  one  child,  Ethel;  James,  an  assistant  in  his  father's  business, 
living  at  home ;  Katie,  who  died  in  1890  in  her  seventeenth  year; 
William  H.,  a  resident  of  Carnegie,  who  married  Miss  Berdella 
Bell,  and  has  one  child,  Berdella;  Hannah  J.,  who  married  Samuel 
Sarner,  a  farmer,  and  has  one  child,  Harold;  George  H.,  at  home, 
a  civil  engineer  employed  by  the  National  mining  company; 
Laura  H.,  at  home;  Albert  E.,  a  plumber,  and  Edith,  in  school. 
Mr.  Prosser  and  family  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Prosser  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  U.  S.  Grant. 

PROF.  R.  M.  SHERRARD,  principal  of  the  No.  2  eleventh 
ward  public  school  of  Allegheny  city,  was  born  in  Bucyrus,  Ohio, 
Oct.  I,  1869.  The  Sherrard  family  is  an  old  and  respected  one  in 
Ohio,  John  Sherrard  being  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Robert  A.  Sherrard  the  grandfather,  and  John 
Hindman  Sherrard  the  father,  Mr.  Sherrard,  the  father,  was  born 
on  Sugar  Hill  farm,  near  Steubenville,  Ohio,  March  24,  1830.  His 
mother  was  Keziah  Neulou  Fulton,  daughter  of  Abram  Fulton,  of 
West  Newton,  Pa.  The  Sherrards  and  Fultons  came  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  in  a  very  early  day,  the  former  coming  in  1770, 
and  the  latter  in  about  1768,  The  father  attended  Washington  col- 
lege, graduating  in  1857,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  was  mar- 
ried. He  graduated  from  the  Western  theological  seminary  in 
1 86 1,  and  located  in  Rimersburg,  Clarion  county,  remaining  there 
from  1861  to  1867,  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  in  the  Christian 
commission   at   Chattanooga  as  a  missionary  among  the   soldiers. 


634  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

From  1867  to  1878  he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Bucyrus,  Ohio,  and  going  from  there  to  Washington,  Pa.,  he 
became  a  mernber  of  the  faculty  of  the  Washington  female  semi- 
nary, at  the  same  time  holding  the  pastorate  at  Prosperity.  In 
1882  he  moved  to  Delphos,  Ohio,  remaining  until  1888,  when  he 
went  to  Rockville,  Ind.,  then  to  Thorntown  in  1896,  retiring  in  1900 
on  account  of  ill-health.  He  moved  to  Wilkinsburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
now  resides.  Professor  Sherrard  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
the  towns  in  which  his  father  was  pastor,  entered  the  preparatory 
department  of  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  college  in  1886,  gradu- 
ating in  1891,  From  1891  to  1894  he  attended  the  academy  at 
Chambersburg,  then  spent  a  year  at  private  study,  and  in  1895  took 
charge  of  the  department  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Indiana  state 
normal  school.  In  September,  1899,  he  was  elected  to  the  eleventh 
ward  public  schools,  his  present  position,  with  600  children  and 
thirteen  teachers  under  his  charge.  Professor  Sherrard  has  made 
his  own  way  to  the  front,  and  stands  to-day  as  one  of  the  leading 
young  principals  in  the  city.  He  was  married,  Nov.  25,  1903,  to 
Lyda  Reid,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  Cochran,  of  Pittsburg. 
Professor  and  Mrs.  Sherrard  are  now  living  at  No.  307  Neville 
St.,  Pittsburg. 

WILLIAM  VOGT,  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic 
church,  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Germany,  near  Cologne,  June  [3, 
1870.  His  parents,  Francis  and  Elizabeth  (Goebel)  Vogt,  are  still 
living,  his  father  being  now  seventy-three  years  old,  and  his 
mother  sixty-nine.  Francis  Vogt,  now  a  farmer  in  Germany, 
served  in  the  German  army  five  years  in  the  fifties.  He  and  his 
wife  are  loyal  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  They  had 
six  children  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Frank,  a  farmer  in  Europe; 
Joseph  J.,  a  priest,  residing  in  Verona,  Pa.  ;  Sophia,  at  home  with 
her  parents;  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Herman,  who  died 
in  1882,  when  ten  years  old,  and  August,  also  a  priest,  located  at 
Mount  Oliver,  Allegheny  county.  Rev.  William  Vogt  received  his 
early  education  in  Germany,  and  studied  three  years  in  a  gymna- 
sium in  his  native  land.  Coming  to  America  in  1886,  he  resumed 
his  studies,  and,  completing  his  education  in  1895,  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood  at  St.  Vincent's,  Beatty,  Pa.,  and  at  once  began  his 
life-work  as  a  priest,  his  first  position  being  that  of  assistant  pastor 
of  St.  Martin's  Roman  Catholic  church,  Pittsburg.  After  five 
years'  faithful  service  in  Pittsburg,  Father  Vogt  took  up  his 
present  charge,  in  June,  1900,  where  his  application  and  attention 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  535 

to  duty  have  made  him  popular  with  his  congregation  and 
strengthened  and  enlarged  his  church.  St.  Joseph's  church  has  in 
connection  a  parochial  school  of  some  200  pupils,  taught  by  four 
of  the  sisters  of  St.  Agnes,  and  the  Sunday-school  has  an  attend- 
ance of  about  300.  Father  Vogt  is  an  enthusiastic  church  worker, 
a  diligent  student,  and  his  church  is  prosperous  and  well  equipped. 

JARED  B.  FIFE,  real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  agent  at 
Carnegie,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa.  His  parents, 
Nathaniel  and  Eleanor  B.  Fife,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  Mr.  Fife  farmed  a  part  of  an  estate  in  Allegheny  county, 
which  was  bought  in  1766  and  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Fife 
family.  Jared  B.  Fife  attended  the  public  school,  and  later  Bethel 
academy,  and  on  July  4,  1861,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  as  a 
private  in  Company  H,  62d  Pennsylvania  volunteers;  served  three 
years,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Yorktown,  Gaines'  Mill, 
Malvern  hill,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Petersburg, 
and  in  numerous  other  engagements,  coming  out  with  the  rank  of 
corporal.  After  the  war  he  spent  several  years  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, keeping  a  general  store  for  a  time,  and  afterwards  a  hardware 
business  in  Mansfield  (now  Carnegie).  He  sold  out  in  1874,  when 
he  became  superintendent  of  Chartiers  cemetery  for  nine  years, 
being  engaged  in  his  present  business  since  1885.  In  the  fall  of 
1888  he  was  elected  tax  collector  of  the  borough,  which  position  he 
has  held  ever  since.  In  1869  he  married  Mary  A.  Marshall,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Rev.  George  Marshall,  D.  D.,  and  Mary  Lee 
Marshall.  Mr.  Fife's  eldest  child,  George  M.,  died  Feb.  25,  1893; 
his  daughter,  Agnes  Genevieve,  is  now  at  home.  In  religion  the 
family  are  Presbyterians.  J.  B.  Fife  is  a  prominent  Mason,  and  a 
member  of  Espy  post,  No.  153,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  was  the 
second  commander.     In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  republican. 

W.  H.  ERSKINE,  superintendent  of  the  Rosslyn  brick  com- 
pany, Carnegie,  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  W.  Va. ,  Jan.  28, 
1867.  His  father,  John  Erskine,  came  to  America  in  1848,  settling 
in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  but  is  now  living  in  Carnegie,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven.  His  wife,  Eleanor  (Eaton)  Erskine,  is  also  living. 
She  is  sixty-one  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Erskine  had  five 
children,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  born. 
The  others  are:  Eva,  now  Mrs.  S.  Steadman,  of  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
Nora  E.,  now  Mrs.  William  Bindley,  and  a  resident  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio;  Louise,  at  home,  and  Hannah,  who  died  when  three  years 


536  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

old.  W.  H.  Erskine  attended  the  public  schools,  and  later  studied 
two  years  at  Mount  Union,  Ohio.  After  completing  his  education 
he  started  at  once  to  learn  the  brick  business  and  became  a  molder. 
His  next  position  was  that  of  foreman,  which  he  followed  for  several 
years  in  Pennsylvania  and  at  Saginaw,  Mich.,  remaining  four 
years  at  the  latter  place.  In  April,  1897,  he  came  to  Carnegie,  and 
was  for  four  years  superintendent  at  the  Fort  Pitt  brick-yard. 
Since  1891  Mr.  Erskine  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Rosslyn 
brick  company.  This  company  is  doing  so  flourishing  a  business 
that  it  is  unable  to  keep  up  with  its  orders,  although  it  employs 
about  forty-five  men,  and  produces  40,000  bricks  a  day.  On 
Oct.  20,  1894,  Mr.  Erskine  married  Miss  Laura  Hunt,  daughter  of 
William  and  Julia  (Hood)  Hunt.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  had  two 
other  children  besides  Mrs.  Erskine.  They  are:  Charles,  an 
engineer,  married  to  Rose  O.  Wesley,  and  George,  who  married 
Stella  Crawford.  William  Hunt  is  an  engineer,  and  has  followed 
this  vocation  all  his  life.  His  wife  died  in  February,  1901.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Erskine  have  two  children:  Earl  Roy  and  Mildred. 
Mr.  Erskine  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Erskine  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  not 
actively  interested  in  politics,  but  votes  the  republican  ticket. 

WILLIAM  HEISEL,  glass-worker,  residing  on  Beechwood 
avenue,  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Pittling,  Prussia,  Dec.  17,  1846, 
His  parents,  John  and  Gertrude  (Baker)  Heisel,  came  to  America 
in  1848,  and  settled  at  first  near  Homestead,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
and  four  years  later  moved  to  South  Side,  Pittsburg.  The  father 
was  a  coal-miner  all  his  active  life,  and  met  his  death  in  an  acci- 
dent while  working  in  a  coal  mine,  leaving  a  widow  and  four  young 
children  to  mourn  his  loss.  In  all,  six  children  were  born  to  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  John  Heisel,  and  of  these  only  two  survive,  William,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Adam  Epp,  residing  in 
West  End,  Pittsburg.  The  mother  died  of  apoplexy,  in  her  eighty- 
fourth  year.  William  Heisel  attended  St.  Michael's  school,  on 
Pine  street.  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  and  at  an  early  age  went  to 
work  in  the  glass-works.  He  has  been  a  glass-worker  continuously 
since  1857.  Mr.  Heisel  has  always  been  a  skillful  workman,  and, 
beginning  at  the  bottom,  has  worked  up  through  all  the  depart- 
ments of  the  glass  trade.  He  spent  six  years  of  his  life  at  his 
trade  at  Elwood,  Ind.,  and  four  years  at  Muncie,  Ind.,  but  has  been 
a  resident  of  Pennsylvania  most  of  the  time,  and  is  now  working  at 
McDonald.     On  May  11,   1870,  Mr,  Heisel  married  Mary  Marion, 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  53T 

a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  children  born  of  this  marriage, 
Gertrude  is  a  stenographer  and  typewriter,  Edward  died  when 
fifteen  months  old,  Amelia  is  a  bookkeeper  in  Carnegie,  Elmer 
died  in  1878  when  four  years  old,  Lillian  is  a  stenographer  in  Pitts- 
burg, Olivia,  Alice  and  William  are  younger  children  in  school. 
Mr.  Heisel  and  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church, 
as  were  Mr.  Heisel's  parents  before  him.  Mr.  Heisel  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees  and  of  the  American  bottle-blowers  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  He  takes  an  interest  in  politics, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  political  conventions  on  several 
occasions,  but  has  never  cared  to  hold  office.  He  and  his  family 
occupy  a  residence  which  he  purchased  in  189S  on  Beechwood 
avenue,  one  of  the  most  sightly  residence  localities  in  Carnegie. 

WILLIAM  H.  McKELVY,  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  of 
Allegheny  county,  was  born  Sept.  21,  1843,  near  Wilkinsburg,  Pa. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  McKelvy,  a  native  of  County  Down,  Ireland, 
who  came  to  Allegheny  county  when  five  years  old,  settling  in 
Wilkinsburg  and  living  there  until  his  death  at  eighty-eight  years. 
His  wife,  Rosanna  Swisshelm,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Swisshelm,  an  officer  in  the 
Revolution.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children:  James,  circuit 
judge  in  the  seventh  judicial  district  of  Minnesota,  1866-83,  and 
died  in  St.  Cloud  in  1884;  Elizabeth  Hagen,  who  died  in  Lamar, 
Mo.,  where  her  husband,  Rev.  Mr.  Hagen,  was  a  Presbyterian 
minister;  John  S.,  Martha  J.,  Wilbur  F.  and  William  H.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Mr.  McKelvy  was  educated  in  Wilkinsburg 
academy  and  at  Allegheny  college,  in  Meadville,  Pa.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  physicians  and  surgeons  in  New 
York  city  in  1866,  and  opened  an  office  in  Pittsburg  in  1867.  In 
1868  he  was  elected  physician  to  the  county  jail,  a  position  he  held 
for  thirteen  years.  Mr.  McKelvy  is  interested  in  educational 
matters,  being  a  member  of  the  central  school  board  for  twenty- 
seven  years  and  president  of  the  same  for  twenty  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  library  association,  and  was  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Carnegie  library  for  six  years.  Mr.  McKelvy  is  a  member  of 
the  Allegheny  county  medical  society  of  Pittsburg  and  of  the 
American  medical  association.  He  is  a  Mason  and  Knight 
Templar,  and  active  in  promoting  the  good  of  the  order  in  the 
state.  He  is  a  republican  and  a  stanch  supporter  of  his  party.  He 
was  married,  March  23,  1897,  to  Margaret  Youngson,  of  Pittsburg. 


538  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

GEORGE  W.  BODEN,  mine  foreman  of  the  Bower  Hill  coal 
mine,  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  June  23,  1S69,  a  son  of  David 
and  Ellen  (Cook)  Boden,  both  natives  of  England.  The  father 
was  a  mill  worker  in  England  and  also  worked  in  the  mines  there, 
and  on  coming  to  America,  in  1859,  continued  to  follow  his  voca- 
tion as  a  miner.  He  located  first  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  later  at 
Banksville,  where  he  opened  up  a  mine  of  his  own  but  discontinued 
it  after  about  a  year,  and  became  a  mine  foreman  in  the  same  place. 
He  next  spent  a  year  prospecting  for  coal  in  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  and  then,  returning  to  Pennsylvania,  was  a  mine  foreman 
in  Mercer  county.  In  1876  he  opened  up  the  Nixon  mine  and  was 
foreman  and  stockholder  in  this  mine  until  about  a  year  before  his 
death.  He  died  Jan.  6,  1888,  when  fifty-six  years  old.  His  wife  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church  and  an  honored  resident  of  Carnegie.  Of  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Boden,  Mary  A.  and  Nellie  both  died  when 
young  and  William  David  died  when  seventeen  years  old,  William 
was  a  boy  of  unusual  promise  and  his  death  was  a  sad  blow  to 
many.  Of  the  others,  Elizabeth  A.  married  William  Lindsley, 
superintendent  of  mines  for  the  Pittsburg  coal  company;  Lina  E. 
is  the  wife  of  James  M.  Sloan,  also  a  mine  superintendent;  George 
W.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Chauncey  C.  is  conductor  on  the 
Great  Northern  railway  and  David  J.  is  an  engineer  on  the 
Wabash  railway.  George  W.  Boden  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Carnegie,  and  then  went  to  work  in  a  mine  under  his 
father,  remaining  there  four  years.  After  this  he  spent  a  year 
as  an  employe  at  the  Schultz  bridge  works  at  McKeesport,  and 
was  for  eighteen  months  fireman  on  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie 
railway.  The  next  five  years  of  his  life  he  was  weighmaster  in 
a  coal  mine  and  then  became  shipping  clerk  for  his  uncle,  David 
Boden,  at  the  Mansfield  coal  mine.  After  this  he  was  for  four 
years  employed  by  the  Alexander  Black  coal  company  and  when 
the  company  sold  out,  he  remained  as  weighmaster  at  the  mine 
until  June,  1902,  when  he  obtained  his  present  position.  The 
Bower  Hill  coal  mine,  situated  two  miles  west  of  Carnegie,  on  the 
Pan  Handle  railway,  is  a  valuable  property  and  employs  125  men, 
Mr.  Boden  has  a  certificate  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  act  as 
mine  foreman  in  any  bituminous  coal  mine  in  the  state.  This  cer- 
tificate is  a  valuable  testimonial  to  the  experience  and  ability  of  its 
owner.  On  June  26,  1894,  Mr.  Boden  was  married  to  Miss  Leila 
T.  McMillen,  a  native  of  Allegheny  county  and  daughter  of 
Alexander  J.  and  Matilda  (Brown)  McMillen.     Mr.  McMillen  is  a 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY  539 

farmer  in  Upper  St.  Clair  township  and  is  prominent  in  educational 
affairs,  having  held  the  position  of  school  director  in  his  township. 
His  wife  died  when  forty-five  years  old.  A  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McMillen,  Ellis  B.,  is  a  railroad  man  and  makes  his  home  with  Mr. 
Boden,  and  a  daughter,  Maud  B.,  also  lives  at  the  Boden  home. 
Mr.  Boden  and  wife  have  had  three  children:  James  A.,  Harold  R. 
and  George  W.  George  W.  died  July  23,  1900,  when  six  months 
old.  Mrs.  Boden  died  July  28,  1900.  She  was  born  Oct.  25,  1871. 
She  was  a  faithful  wife  and  mother  and  esteemed  by  her  family 
and  friends,  Mr.  Boden  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Carnegie,  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Building  and  Loan  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  a  past  commander  and  present  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Malta  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

JOHN  PHILIP  BOHLANDER,  of  Elizabeth,  Pa.,  a  successful 
and  prosperous  carpenter,  was  born  at  Dravosburg,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  March  8,  1859,  son  of  Philip  and  Catherine  (Miller)  Bohlander, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  His  father  came  to  America  in  1852, 
located  at  Dravosburg,  and  there  was  engaged  in  mining  coal  for 
John  F.  Dravo  until  about  1866.  He  then  removed  to  Armstrong, 
Westmoreland  county,  where  he  worked  as  a  butcher  for  a  year, 
thence  to  Shaner  Station  of  that  county  and  there  followed  the 
trade  of  butchering  for  two  years.  In  1869  the  elder  Bohlander 
located  at  Elizabeth,  where  he  conducted  the  leading  meat-market 
of  that  borough  until  his  retirement  in  1902.  He  has  some 
valuable  real  estate  in  Elizabeth  and  is  reckoned  one  of  the  solid 
and  progressive  citizens  of  that  borough.  He  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1832,  and,  in  1854,  married  Catherine  Miller,  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  died  in  1867,  leaving  three  children:  Leonard, 
John  P.  and  George.  Philip  Bohlander  was  again  married  in  1874 
and  on  that  occasion  espoused  Susan  Messersmith,  also  a  native  of 
the  Fatherland,  who  bore  him  three  children:  Christian,  Alexander 
and  Catherine,  the  latter  deceased.  Philip  Bohlander  is  now 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well-spent  career  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 
John  Philip  Bohlander  was  reared  in  Elizabeth  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  borough,  completing  his  course  in  1877,  He 
then  devoted  his  attention  to  the  carpenters'  trade,  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  four  years  and  since  has  successfully  followed 
that  vocation.     He  resided  in  Homestead  from    1897   until    1903, 


540  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

when  he  moved  to  Elizabeth,  where  he  has  valuable  property 
interests.  He  was  married,  on  Nov.  29,  1883,  to  Caroline  F., 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Altmeyer)  Yellig,  and  they  have 
three  sons:  John  P.,  George  L.  and  William  H.  Mr.  Bohlander 
and  his  wife  are  members  ot  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  is  a  member  of  Elizabeth  lodge.  No.  444,  Knights  of  Pythias; 
Old  Monongahela  lodge,  No.  209,  Odd  Fellows;  Boaz  council.  No, 
814,  Royal  Arcanum;  Homestead  council,  No.  21,  Order  of  Amer- 
icus,  and  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  His 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican  party  and  he  is  an 
active  worker  for  its  advancement  and  success. 

JAMES  M.  SCHOULTS,  a  prominent  contractor  and  builder, 
of  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county.  Pa.,  Dec.  25,  1843. 
His  parents,  James  and  Sarah  A.  Schoults,  both  died  of  small-pox 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  a  year  and  half  old,  and 
Mr.  Schoults  was  reared  by  William  McElhany  on  a  farm  in 
Indiana  township,  now  called  Richland  township.  As  a  boy  he 
worked  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  district  school,  and,  when 
less  than  eighteen  years  old.  began  to  learn  the  carpenters'  trade. 
He  has  followed  that  vocation  continuously  since  that  time  and  has 
met  with  marked  success.  He  has  built  many  houses  in  Crafton 
and  other  places  in  Allegheny  county  and  erected,  in  1896,  the 
Hustler  building,  which  was  the  first  tall  building  to  be  built  in 
Carnegie.  In  former  years,  when  a  contractor  was  expected  to 
understand  architecture,  he  planned  all  his  buildings,  but  has  not 
given  any  attention  to  architecture  for  several  years  past.  Mr, 
Schoults  has  won  for  himself  a  reputation  for  excellent  work  and 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  On  April  21,  1859,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Crummy,  a  native  of  Allegheny  county, 
and  daughter  of  David  Crummy.  The  children  born  of  this  mar- 
riage were:  Nancy  Jane,  who  married  John  Leslie  and  has  five 
children  living:  Pearl,  Margaret,  Edna,  John  and  May;  Margaret, 
who  married  John  Hall  of  Allegheny,  and  has  two  children:  Fern 
and  Albert;  and  Mary  F.,  now  married  to  Adam  Frederick  of  Alle- 
gheny, who  has  five  children:  Roy,  Norman,  Wilmer,  Verna  and 
Milford  James.  Mrs.  Schoults  died  Aug.  10,  1881.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  On  May  i,  1883,  Mr. 
Schoults  married  as  his  second  wife.  Miss  Emma  J.  McClelland, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Anderson)  McClelland,  and  grand- 
daughter of  James  and  Sarah  (Peebles)  Anderson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McClelland    were   born    on    the    same    day,  Aug.    14,   1836,     Mr. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  541 

McClelland  died  Feb.  2,  1897,  and  his  wife  Jan.  12,  1894.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McClelland  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Schoults  is  the  only  one  now  living.  The  others  were:  Mrs.  Steven 
Large,  James  E.,  Mrs.  John  Culbert,  George  Elmer,  William 
John,  Joseph  S.  and  David  Henry,  By  his  second  marriage  Mr. 
Schoults  is  the  father  of  two  children,  Minnie  Myrtle  and  Earl 
Milford.  Mr.  Schoults  belongs  to  no  secret  organizations.  In 
political  belief  he  is  a  republican,  but  takes  no  active  interest  in 
party  politics.  Mrs.  Schoults,  Minnie  and  Earl  are  members  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Carnegie. 

GEORGE  T.  KIRKBRIDE,  of  the  firm  of  Kirkbride  &  San- 
ford,  dealers  in  general  dry  goods,  Carnegie,  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  in  Carnegie.  He  is  secretary,  treasurer 
and  general  manager  of  the  Fort  Pitt  stone  and  brick  company, 
Carnegie,  and  a  member  of  the  Carnegie  board  of  trade.  He  was 
born  Oct.  15,  1861,  in  Mansfield,  now  Carnegie,  in  the  historic 
Davis  house,  which  he  has  recently  purchased.  Mr.  Kirkbride's 
parents  were  Capt.  Thomas  E.  and  Annie  E.  (Moreland)  Kirk- 
bride. They  were  married  in  1857  and  came  to  Carnegie,  then 
called  Mansfield.  At  the  first  call  for  men  to  fight  in  the  Civil  war, 
Mr.  Kirkbride  volunteered  and  was  made  captain  of  a  company 
recruited  in  the  West  End,  Pittsburg.  The  company  was  one  of 
those  which  composed  the  13th  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry 
and  afterwards  was  merged  into  the  io2d  volunteer  infantry,  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  The  intrepid  Captain  Kirkbride  fought  in  all  the 
battles  of  his  command  until,  on  May  5,  1864,  he  received  a  mortal 
wound  while  fighting  in  the  Wilderness.  He  was  taken  to  a  hos- 
pital at  Washington,  where  he  died  sixteen  days  later.  His  young 
wife  was  at  his  bedside  when  the  end  came.  Captain  Kirkbride  and 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Mansfield. 
They  had  two  other  children  besides  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Of 
these,  the  daughter,  Ida  M.,  afterwards  Mrs.  J.  M.  Belleville,  of 
Philadelphia,  died  when  thirty-seven  years  old;  and  the  son, 
Charles  E,  Kirkbride,  is  a  machinist  of  Allegheny.  George  T. 
Kirkbride,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Carnegie,  and  when  twelve  years  old  was  employed  by  the  late 
W.  J.  Ford,  who  was  then  a  banker  and  postmaster  of  Carnegie. 
He  remained  with  Mr.  Ford  for  two  years  and  then  learned  teleg- 
raphy and  was  a  telegraph  operator  until  1887.  Then,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Sanford,  he  bought  out  the  dry  goods  business  of  A.  W, 
Waldie,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  with 


542  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY    COUNTY 

good  success.  The  store,  which  is  large  and  commodious,  carries 
a  full  line  of  dry  goods,  notions,  millinery,  wall  paper  and  house 
furnishings,  and  does  a  steadily  increasing  business.  Besides  this, 
the  firm  also  owns,  in  the  second  ward,  Carnegie,  the  dry  goods 
store  formerly  kept  by  McCracken  &  Co.,  where  they  have  a  good 
trade.  In  1898  Mr.  Kirkbride  organized  the  Fort  Pitt  stone  and 
brick  company,  of  which  he  is  secretary,  treasurer  and  general 
manager,  and  H.  J.  Verner,  president.  This  business,  by  means 
of  good  management  and  the  addition  of  improved  machinery,  has 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  leading  industries  in  Carnegie.  The  con- 
cern produces  40,000  bricks  a  day  and  employs  fifty  men,  with  a  pay 
roll  amounting  to  $30,000  per  year.  Mr.  Kirkbride  was  married, 
Nov.  10,  1890,  to  Miss  Jennie  Waldie,  a  native  of  Carnegie,  and 
daughter  of  James  and  Jane  Waldie,  old  and  respected  residents  of 
that  city,  and  sister  of  the  late  A.  W.  Waldie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kirkbride  have  two  daughters,  Ida  J.  and  Elizabeth  Lucile.  Mr. 
Kirkbride  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Kirkbride  is  a  republican,  but  has  been 
too  busy  with  other  matters  to  take  great  interest  in  party  ques- 
tions. He  served  three  years  as  a  member  of  the  Carnegie  school 
board,  however,  and  during  that  time  the  Carnegie  high  school 
was  erected.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, being  a  past  master  of  Centennial  lodge.  No.  544,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M. ;  member  of  Cyrus  chapter,  No.  280,  and  Tancred  command- 
ery.  Knights  Templars, 

WILLIAM  BORGMANN  was  born  in  Westfalen,  Germany, 
March  16,  1856,  son  of  William  and  Maria  (Hanefeld)  Borgmann, 
natives  of  Germany.  William  Borgmann,  Sr.,  a  soft  of  Ebehard 
Borgmann,  was  a  hotel-keeper  in  Germany  and  ran  a  grocery  in 
'connection.  He  retired  from  business  seven  years  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1894.  His  wife  died  when  sixty-six  years 
old,  in  August,  1902.  Both  were  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  Besides  this  son,  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  they 
had  one  daughter,  Emma,  who  married  Dr.  Otto  Plange,  a  resident 
of  Muenster,  Germany.  Dr.  Plange  and  wife  have  four  children : 
Julius,  Margaret,  Paul  and  Otto.  William  Borgmann  was  educated 
in  a  gymnasium  at  Bochum,  Germany,  and  after  completing  his 
education  spent  several  years  as  a  banker.  He  was  married  in 
Germany,  Oct.  18,  1884,  to  Miss  Ifedwig  Plange,  a  sister  of  Dr. 
Otto  Plange,  who  married  Mr.  Borgmann 's  sister.  Mrs.  Borgmann 
is  a  daughter  of  Theodore  and  Theresa  Plange.      Her  mother  died 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  543 

in  1898,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  and  her  father  a  year  later, 
when  eighty-two  years  old.  Mr.  Borgmann  came  to  America  in 
1890,  locating  first  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  then  in  Carnegie,  where  he  has  since  resided.  During  his 
residence  in  Carnegie  he  worked  first  for  Emil  Grimm,  and  later 
for  Julius  Gottfried  and  then  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Now  he  is  general  manager  for  the  Chartiers 
Valley  brewing  company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borgmann  have  four 
children:  Hedwig,  William,  Ingelborg  and  Erich.  Mrs.  Borgmann 
and  children  came  to  America  in  1899,  and  have  since  resided  in 
Carnegie.  The  family  are  members  of  the  St.  Joseph  Roman 
Catholic  church.  Mr.  Borgmann,  although  for  most  of  his  life  a 
citizen  of  Germany,  is  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  energy  and  progress 
of  the  United  States,  and  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  new  country. 

ALBERT  FREDERICK  LEUSCHNER,  of  West  Homestead, 
Pa.,  a  prosperous  wagon-builder,  was  born  at  Radeberg,  in 
Saxony,  Germany,  Sept.  24,  1874,  son  of  Edward  Frederick  and 
Pauline  (Rehn)  Leuschner,  who  were  natives  of  Germany.  His 
parents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1883,  located  at  Homestead, 
where  his  father  embarked  in  the  business  of  wagon-making,  hav- 
ing learned  that  trade  in  the  old  country.  He  established  the  busi- 
ness now  conducted  by  his  son  and  successfully  ran  the  same  until 
his  retirement  in  1900,  when  he  disposed  of  the  stock  and  good-will 
to  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  which  establishment  the  latter  has  since 
conducted  with  skill  and  ability.  Prior  to  the  purchase  of  his 
father's  interests,  Albert  F.  had  been  identified  with  the  business 
for  a  number  of  years,  under  the  firm  name  of  Leuschner  &  Son, 
and  was  in  active  charge  of  the  blacksmith  department.  His 
father,  who  died  on  March  17,  1902,  had  been  twice  married,  first 
to  a  Miss  Eisel,  who  bore  him  three  children:  Max,  Richard  and 
Herman;  and  on  the  second  occasion  to  Pauline  Rehn,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children:  Albert  F.  and  Mary  A.  Albert  F.  Leuschner 
was  reared  in  Homestead  from  nine  years  of  age,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  that  borough  and  when  thirteen  years  of  age 
became  an  apprentice  at  the  wagon-makers'  trade,  which  he  com- 
pleted when  nineteen  years  old.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
learning  the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he  finished  in  1895,  and  two 
years  later  embarked  in  business  with  his  father,  as  previously 
stated,  and  became  sole  proprietor  in  1900.  He  was  married,  on 
Oct.  17,  1896,  to  Ida  Clare  Mitchell,  of  New  Castle,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Edward  Robert.     Mr.  Leuschner  is  a  member  of  the 


544  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

Lutheran  church,  the  Masons,  the  Elks,  the  German  Haragin 
lt)dge  of  Homestead  and  the  Homestead  Eintracd  singing-  and 
turnverein  society.  He  is  a  stanch  republican  in  his  political  views 
and  associations,  has  twice  served  as  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions and  since  1900  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
school  board  of  West  Homestead  borough,  being  'president  of  the 
school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  republican  county  com- 
mittee. 

ROBERT  LEWIS  WATSON,  of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Duquesne  water- works,  was  born  near  Bellefonte,  Pa., 
June  8,  1864,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (He&s)  Watson,  both 
natives  of  Centre  county,  Pa.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Robert 
Lewis  Watson,  was  also  a  native  of  Centre  county  and  the  son  of 
James  Riddle  Watson,  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  pioneer  farmer 
of  Centre  county,  Pa.  His  paternal  grandmother  was  a  Miss 
Williams,  of  Welsh  descent,  and  a  woman  of  many  fine  traits  of 
character.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject,  Lewis  Hess, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent,  a  farmer  and 
lumberman,  who  married  Elizabeth  Shirck.  James  Watson,  father 
of  the  subject,  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Centre  county,  where  he 
died,  and  his  remains  are  buried  in  the  Bellefonte  cemetery.  He 
reared  a  family  of  three  children,  viz. :  Andrew  J.  ;  Anna  B.,  wife  of 
Weisel  E.  Turner,  and  Robert  L.  Robert  L.  Watson  was  reared 
in  the  county  where  so  many  of  his  relatives  have  lived,  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  removed  to 
Joliet,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  for  nine  years  as  engineer  at 
the  plant  of  the  Illinois  steel  works.  In  1889  Mr.  Watson  came  to 
Duquesne,  Pa.,  where  he  served  as  engineer  for  the  Carnegie  steel 
works  until  1896,  when  he  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  and  was 
employed  in  the  capacity  of  an  engineer  at  Everett,  Wash.,  for 
two  years.  In  1898  he  returned  to  Duquesne  and  became  engineer 
at  the  plant  of  the  American  tin  plate  company,  which  position  he 
ably  filled  until  1900,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the  Duquesne  water-works,  which  office 
he  has  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  borough.  He  was 
married,  on  Aug.  8,  1891,  to  Jennie,  daughter  of  James  and 
Margaret  (O'Neill)  Bready,  of  Duquesne,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Belle,  Robert  L.,  Jr.,  Ralph  O.,  William  A.  and 
Margaret.  Mr.  Watson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  his  political  affiliations  are  with  the  republican 
party. 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  545 

ROBERT  E.  SMALLEY,  foreman  of  the  docks  in  the  ship- 
yards at  Elizabeth,  was  born  Oct.  14,  1861,  in  Washington  county, 
Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Annie  (Roher)  Smalley,  both 
natives  of  that  county.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  left  at  an  early  age  to  accept  employment  in 
a  planing  mill  at  West  Brownsville,  where  he  remained  for  six 
years.  About  1881  he  began  work  on  the  river  as  a  ship  car- 
penter, and  has  continued  in  that  business  ever  since.  For  the 
last  four  years  he  has  held  his  present  position  as  foreman  of  the 
docks  in  the  Elizabeth  yards.  Mr.  Smalley  was  married,  in  1896, 
to  Miss  Lydia  Lambert,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  Lambert,  of 
Elizabeth,  and  one  son,  Andrew  J.,  has  come  to  bless  this  union. 
Politically,  Mr.  Smalley  is  a  democrat.  He  served  on  the  Elizabeth 
school  board  for  two  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term, 
having  been  re-elected  in  1903,  in  which  office  he  discharges  the 
duties  of  the  position  with  intelligence  and  fidelity.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  all  these  organizations  he  is  a  respected 
member,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  their  growth  and 
usefulness. 

EDWARD  MORTON,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Scott  township, 
Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  has  lived  all  his  life  in  that  township.  He 
was  born  on  Nov.  30,  1873,  and  is  the  only  son  of  Margaret  Mor- 
ton, who  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  best-known  and  most  gen- 
erally loved  women  in  Scott  township.  She  was  born  in  Ireland, 
in  1836.  In  1869  she  came  to  this  country.  Upon  landing  in 
America,  she  came  directly  to  Allegheny  county.  After  living  a 
short  time  in  Pittsburg,  she  moved  upon  the  farm  in  Scott  town- 
ship now  owned  and  operated  by  her  son  and  daughter.  This 
farm  consists  of.  sixty  acres  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township. 
During  the  last  thirty  years  of  her  life  she  conducted  a  dairy.  In 
this  work  she  was  ably  assisted  by  her  children,  Edward,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  a  daughter,  Ann  Jane,  who  was  born  in 
December,  1870.  Mrs.  Morton  met  with  a  tragic  death  on  May  19, 
1903.  While  riding  with  her  daughter  in  a  buggy,  the  vehicle 
broke  down  and  she  was  thrown  out  with  such  force  that  her  skull 
was  fractured.  She  lived  but  a  short  time  after  the  accident,  her 
death  being  universally  mourned  by  the  people  of  the  surrounding 
neighborhood.  For  many  years  preceding  her  death,  she  had  been 
a   consistent  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  and  she 

1-35 


546  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

died  steadfast  in  the  faith.  Both  her  children  are  members  of  the 
same  denomination.  Edward  Morton  received  a  good  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  he  has  kept  up  with  the  march  of  events 
by  reading  and  study  since  he  left  the  schoolroom.  He  takes  a 
keen  interest  in  political  matters  and  is  one  of  the  acknowledged 
leaders  of  the  republican  party  of  Scott  township.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  West  Liberty  council,  No.  273,  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics,  and  of  Washington  camp,  No.  2,  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America.  There  is  something  both  noble  and 
pathetic  in  the  love  of  Edward  Morton  and  his  sister  for  their 
honored  mother  and  for  each  other.  During  her  life  their  highest 
ambition  was  to  please  her  and  lighten  her  burdens. 

GEORGE  HAYDEN  BAIRD,  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
the  town  of  Bridgeville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Fayette  county  of  that 
state,  Aug.  21,  1870,  and  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Margery  M. 
Baird.  Both  his  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  The  father  was  born  on  Oct.  9,  1828,  and 
died  on  May  29,  1901.  During  his  life  he  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Fayette  county.  The  mother  was  born  on  Oct.  25,  1825,  and  died 
on  March  26,  1902.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Finley,  To 
this  couple  were  born  eleven  children:  Winona  C. ;  Margaret,  now 
the  wife  of  Dr.  William  McClure;  Robert,  William  F.,  Moses  A., 
Mary  M. ;  George  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Edward  J.,  James 
F.,  Anna  Florence  and  Benjamin  B.  Until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  George  lived  at  home  with  his  parents,  assisting  with 
the  farm  work  and  attending  the  common  schools.  Later  he  took 
a  partial  course  in  the  Kiskiminetas  institute  at  Saltsburg,  after 
which  he  finished  his  education  in  Duff's  business  college  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1891.  In  the  spring  of 
1899  he  established  his  present  place  of  business  in  Bridgeville, 
and  owing  to  his  genial  disposition  and  his  correct  business 
methods,  he  has  prospered  from  the  outset.  Mr.  Baird  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Bridgeville  lodge,  No.  396,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  Centennial  lodge.  No.  544,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
On  all  political  questions  touching  state  or  national  problems,  he 
affiliates  with  the  republican  party,  but  in  local  matters  he  is  not 
a  partisan  in  any  sense  of  the  term,  believing  in  the  election  of  the 
best  men  to  local  offices.  On  Sept.  14,  1899,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Ella  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  John  H.  and  Rebecca  H.  Mor- 
gan. Mrs.  Baird's  father  was  born  in  Allegheny  county.  Pa., 
Sept.  16,  1839,  and  died  there  March   18,  1874.     Her  mother  was 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  547 

born  on  April  ii,  1841,  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years,  but  she  is  so  well  preserved  that  she  has  the  appearance  of 
being  much  younger.  John  H,  and  Rebecca  Morgan  were  married 
on  Feb.  22,  1866,  and  their  daughter,  Ella,  was  born  on  Dec.  27, 
1869.  Like  her  husband,  she  is  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage.  She 
graduated  from  the  Washington  seminary  with  the  class  of  1894, 
and  for  four  5^ears  after  leaving  school,  she  was  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Bridgeville,  most  of  the  time  in  the  second  grade. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  are  members  of  and  regular  attendants  at  the 
Presbyterian  church.  They  have  no  children.  He  has  recently 
completed  one  of  the  cosiest  homes  in  the  Bridgeville  borough,  a 
handsome  two-story  house  which,  with  the  lot  upon  which  it  stands, 
cost  him  nearly  $5,000. 

LEONARD  RIEHL,  farmer  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  Scott 
township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Rebecca 
(Heldman)  Riehl,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany. 
Rebecca  Heldman  came  to  America  in  1858.  Two  years  later 
Peter  Riehl  came,  and  the  couple  were  married  in  Allegheny 
county.  Pa.,  in  1862.  They  had  two  sons:  Leonard,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  was  born  Feb.  5,  1864,  and  Peter,  born  May  3, 
1866.  Leonard  Riehl  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
attended  the  common  schools,  and  later  took  several  terms  at  Duff's 
business  college  in  Pittsburg,  thus  securing  a  good,  practical  edu- 
cation. He  owns  a  farin  of  seventy-eight  acres — one  of  the  best  in 
Scott  township — and  manages  it  in  the  most  approved  manner. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  everything  that  has  a  tendency  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  men  in  the  township. 
Early  in  1902  he  was  nominated  by  the  republican  party  for  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  the  election  on  February  17th 
of  that  year,  he  was  triumphantly  elected  for  a  term  of  five  years, 
many  of  his  political  opponents  voting  for  him  because  of  the  con- 
fidence they  had  in  him  as  a  man  and  a  neighbor.  In  1891  Leonard 
Riehl  and  Paulina  Fischer  were  made  man  and  wife.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Doretta  Fischer,  both  natives  of  Germany 
and  well-known  residents  of  Allegheny  county,  and  was  born 
March  27,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riehl  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  Arthur  Otto,  Walter  Waldorf,  Laura,  George  Dewey 
and  Sylvia  Doretta.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  and  consistently  practice  the  tenets  of  their 
religion  in  their  daily  conduct. 


548  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

HENRY  DAUBE,  a  prosperous  and  well-known  farmer  of 
Scott  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  lifelong  resident  of  the 
county,  having  been  born  there  Sept.  7,  1857.  His  father, 
Henry  J.  Daube,  was  born  in  Germany  in  18 14,  and  died  in  Alle- 
gheny county  in  1886.  His  mother  was  Catharine  (Chisler)  Daube. 
She,  too,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  is  still  living  with  her  son, 
John  H.  Daube,  in  Scott  township.  Henry  Daube  was  reared  on  a 
farm.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the  common  schools  during  the 
winter  months,  thus  securing  a  fair  education,  to  which  he  has 
added  by  reading  and  observation.  Ever  since  reaching  manhood 
he  has  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer,  and  few  men  can  show  a 
better-managed  farm  than  his.  He  has  always  been  a  democrat  in 
politics  and  keeps  himself  well  informed  on  the  political  topics  of 
the  times.  In  1873  he  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara  Snyder,  a 
daughter  of  Anthony  and  Mary  (Portman)  Snyder.  Mrs.  Daube 
was  born  in  Allegheny  county  in  1859.  She  and  her  husband  are 
the  parents  of  five  children:  Mary,  aged  eighteen  years;  Joseph, 
sixteen;  Tillie,  thirteen;  Harry,  eleven,  and  Lucy,  eight.  Mr. 
Daube  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  and  are  regular  attendants  upon  the  church  rites. 

WILLIAM  ALDERSON,  who  owns  one  of  the  largest  farms 
in  Scott  township,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  in  that  county, 
April  3,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Parker)  Alderson, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  England,  the  former  being  born 
March  6,  1808,  and  the  latter,  Aug.  17,  1810.  They  were  married 
in  England,  but  came  to  America  in  the  early  thirties  and  located 
at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  for  about  fifteen  years  Thomas  Alderson 
followed  the  business  of  a  coal  operator.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  became  a  farmer  and  remained  in  that  occupation  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  Jan.  30,  1888,  his  wife  having  died  some 
ten  years  before — Dec.  25,  1878.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  the  oldest  of  whom,  Mary,  was  born  in  England,  April  3, 
1830,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  America  when  she  was  a  babe. 
The  others  were  all  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  at  the  dates 
given:  Jane,  Feb.  27,  1832;  Sarah  Ann,  Oct.  30,  1835;  William,  our 
subject,  April  3,  1837;  Elizabeth,  March  12,  1839;  Margaret, 
March  20,  1841;  John,  Nov.  8,  1843;  Sarah,  Oct.  9,  1845;  Emma, 
Sept.  26,  1847;  Annie,  Oct.  13,  1849,  and  Hattie,  March  26,  185 1. 
John  and  Sarah  are  deceased,  but  the  others  are  still  living. 
William  Alderson  received  a  common-school  education  and  began 
life  as  a  farmer  on  a  small  scale.     He  now  owns  three  tracts  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  549 

land  in  Scott  township,  aggregating  115  acres,  all  of  which  is  in"a 
fine  state  of  cultivation.  For  the  last  twenty-five  years  he  has  con- 
tinuously held  some  of  the  township  offices,  which  shows  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  neighbors.  Until  about  ten  years  ago  he 
always  worked  and  voted  with  the  democratic  party,  but  since  that 
time  he  has  been  an  enthusiastic  republican.  In  1876  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Annie  Vero,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Phoebe 
Elizabeth  (Thomas)  Vero,  Mrs.  Alderson  is  a  native  of  Stafford- 
shire, England,  but  came  with  her  parents  to  this  country  when  she 
was  about  seven  years  of  age.  They  settled  at  Pittsburg,  where 
she  obtained  a  good  education  in  the  city  schools.  To  William  and 
Annie  Alderson  have  been  born  the  following  children:  James 
William,  Jane  Lizzie  (now  the  wife  of  Alvah  Sharlton),  Margaret, 
Thomas  Parker,  Harry  Lawrence,  Anna  (deceased),  Edith  Mabel, 
Emma  Bockstoce,  Phoebe  Eleanor,  Raymond  Russell,  William 
Henry,  Annie  Roberta,  Walter  Howard  and  John  Albert.  Mrs. 
Alderson  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  William 
Alderson,  altliough  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination, 
is  a  man  of  sound  morals  and  an  unimpeachable  integrity.  He  is 
a  member  of  Castle  Shannon  lodge,  No.  108,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  finds  in  the  precepts  of  that  order  excellent  rules 
for  the  government  of  his  actions  in  all  his  relations  with  mankind. 

ALBERT  WEIR,  liveryman  and  undertaker  in  the  town  of 
Imperial,  North  Fayette  township,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  young 
business  men  of  Allegheny  county.  He  was  born  in  the  county, 
Dec.  I,  1874.  His  parents,  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Metzker)  Weir, 
were  both  natives  of  Germany,  the  former  being  born  in  1821,  and 
the  latter  in  the  same  year.  When  Andrew  Weir  was  thirty-five 
years  of  age  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Allegheny  county, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  as  a  farmer.  He  died  in 
1891  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  About  the  time  that  he  came  to 
this  country,  Margaret  Metzker  also  came  over  with  her  parents, 
and  they  located  in  Allegheny  county.  She  was  married  to 
Andrew  Weir  at  Pittsburg,  in  1857.  Albert  Weir  is  one  of  a 
family  of  several  children  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  such  an  education  as  the  common  schools  afforded.  He 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  about  1898,  when  he  learned 
undertaking,  and  later  embarked  in  the  business  for  himself,  con- 
necting with  it  a  well-equipped  livery  stable.  On  Jan.  19,  1899, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy,  a  daughter  of  Jabez  and  Susie  Dore. 
She  was  born  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  April   12,  1878.     Her  father 


550  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

was  of  English  descent  on  the  paternal  side,  and  his  mother  was  of 
Welsh  lineage.  Mrs.  Weir's  mother  was  of  Scotch- Irish  extraction. 
Both  her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weir  have 
one  child,  Jabez,  who  was  born  Dec.  ii,  1899.  Both  husband  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Politically, 
he  is  a  republican. 

REV.  M.  J.  ORZECHOWSKl,  pastor  of  St.  Adelbert's  church, 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  United  States  since  June, 
1888.  He  was  born  in  Warsaw,  Poland,  March  19,  1879,  and 
attended  the  parochial  schools  there  until  he  was  nine  years  of  age. 
Upon  coming  to  America  he  went  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  for 
seven  years  he  was  a  student  in  the  Polish  Seminary  of  St.  Cyril  and 
Methodius,  taking  the  philosophical  and  classical  courses.  He  then 
spent  one  year  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  a  theological  course,  after 
which  he  went  to  Overbrook,  Pa.,  where  a  three-year  theological 
course  completed  his  education.  On  July  6,  1902,  he  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  John  Foley,  of  Detroit,  for  the  Harrisburg  diocese. 
Father  Orzechowski  said  his  first  mass  in  the  Polish  Church  of  St. 
Hedwijs,  in  Chicago,  where  he  spent  one  month  as  a  priest  imme- 
diately after  his  ordination.  From  St.  Hedwijs  he  was  sent  to 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  as  an  assistant  for  three  weeks,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  as  an  assistant  at  the  Church  of  St. 
Anthony.  He  remained  here  but  one  month,  when  he  was 
appointed  pastor  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Consolation,  a  Polish  church 
at  Mt.  Carmel,  Pa.  After  eight  months  he  resigned  his  charge,  the 
parish  being  too  small  to  support  a  priest.  He  then  came  to  St. 
Adelbert's,  on  Fifteenth  street.  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  where  he 
is  at  present,  and  where  his  work  is  meeting  with  favorable  results. 

JOSEPH  A.  VERNON,  who  is  one  of  the  well-known  con- 
tractors of  the  city  of  Homestead,  is  a  sou  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Mehan)  Vernon,  and  was  born  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Nov.  3, 
1870.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are 
still  living,  viz.:  Kate,  wife  of  Thomas  Hickey;  Annie,  wife  of 
Antona  Nestler;  Ellen  (deceased);  Mary  (deceased),  who  was  the 
wife  of  Patrick  Brennan;  Arthur;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Nestler; 
Jennie,  wife  of  Dennis  Byrne ;  William ;  Joseph  A. ;  Alice 
(deceased),  who  was  the  wife  of  Frederick  Mayo;  John,  Olivia  and 
Ferguson  (deceased).  His  father  came  to  this  country  from  Ire- 
land about  the  year  1850.  He  is  a  native  of  Belfast.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  followed  the  business  of  a  contractor  in  the  cities  of 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  551 

Pittsburg  and  Homestead,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  now  lives 
.  retired.  Catherine  Mehan  is  a  native  of  Londonderry,  Ireland. 
She  came  to  this  country  some  years  after  her  husband,  and  they 
were  married  in  Philadelphia  in  1856.  Joseph  A.  Vernon  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  after  which  he  learned  the  carpenters' 
trade  in  Homestead,  and  has  been  engaged  at  that  occupation  since 
1887.  In  1900  he  began  contracting  for  himself,  and  although 
there  were  a  number  of  older  contractors  with  whom  he  had  to 
compete,  he  has  been  quite  successful,  some  of  the  best  buildings 
in  the  city  being  erected  under  his  supervision.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  political 
affairs,  always  working  with  the  republican  party,  to  which  he 
belongs. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  RICHARDS,  of  Duquesne,  Pa., 
a  leading  druggist,  was  born  in  Dravosburg,  Allegheny  county, 
Aug.  20,  1868,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Williams)  Richards, 
natives  of  Wales,  who  came  to  America  in  1850,  settled  in  Mifflin 
township,  Allegheny  county,  where  his  father  worked  as  a  mining 
engineer  for  fifteen  years,  and  later  became  an  engineer  in  the 
mines  of  Dravosburg.  He  continued  in  that  capacity  until  his 
death  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  and  was  the  father  of 
nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  James;  Charlotte,  wife 
of  Edward  Morgan;  William;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  J.  Lloyd; 
Thomas,  John,  Harry,  George  W.  and  Edward.  George  W. 
Richards  was  reared  at  Dravosburg,  educated  at  the  public  schools 
and  at  the  Dravosburg  academy,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1883, 
and  subsequently  completed  a  course  at  the  Western  university,  at 
Pittsburg,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  1892.  From  1883  to 
1892  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  for  the  drug  firm  of  J.  R.  McLain 
&  Co.,  at  Dravosburg,  and  in  1892  graduated  from  the  Pittsburg 
college  of  pharmacy,  received  his  certificate  from  the  State 
pharmaceutical  examining  board,  and  also  was  licensed  by  the  Ohio 
state  board  of  examiners.  Then  he  located  at  Duquesne,  where 
he  managed  the  drug  establishment  of  W.  J.  E.  McLain;  in  1893 
he  became  a  partner  of  his  former  employer,  under  the  firm  name 
of  McLain  &  Richards,  which  partnership  has  since  continued.  In 
1902  they  purchased  the  store  of  the  Porter  drug  company,  corner 
of  Sixth  street  and  Grant  avenue,  and  now  conduct  this  pharmacy 
as  a  branch,  their  main  place  being  located  at  Grant  and  Duquesne 
avenues.  Mr.  Richards  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
bank  of  Duquesne,  of  which  he  was  a  director  for  five  years,  and 


552  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY 

is  also  interested  in  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Duquesne 
trust  company,  of  which  he  is  vice-president  and  which  began  opera- 
tions on  May  25,  1903.  He  is  also  a  dealer  in  real  estate,  handling 
his  own  property,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  progres- 
sive citizens  of  the  borough.  The  religious  belief  of  Mr.  Richards 
is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  but  he  is  liberal  and  broad-minded 
in  his  views,  and  is  a  supporter  of  all  denominations.  He  is 
a  member  of  Duquesne  lodge.  No.  751,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  Vesta 
lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
operations  of  these  orders.  His  political  affiliations  are  v/ith  the 
republican  party,  and  he  has  represented  the  first  ward  in  the 
borough  council,  where  he  made  a  good  record  and  there  displayed 
the  business  acumen  and  sound  judgment  which  have  marked  his 
private  affairs. 

STEPHEN  S.  CRUMP,  of  Dravosburg,  Pa.,  president  of  the 
State  bank,  was  born  near  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  Nov.  6,  1830,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Ruth  (Robinson)  Crump,  both  natives  of 
Virginia.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Stephen  Crump,  was,  in 
later  life,  a  farmer  of  Washington  county.  Pa.,  and  married  Nancy 
Sisson.  His  maternal  grandfather,  John  Robinson,  was  a  native 
of  the  north  of  Ireland  and  an  early  settler  of  Ohio  county,  W.  Va., 
where  he  followed  his  occupation  of  farming.  John  Crump,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade, 
and  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life  resided  at  Beaver,  Pa., 
where  he  died.  Stephen  S.  Crump  was  reared  in  Ohio  county, 
W.  Va.,  until  his  sixteenth  year,  attending  the  common  schools  of 
that  county,  and  in  1847  located  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  was 
employed  as  clerk  in  the  oyster  house  of  Holt  &  Maltby  for  two 
years.  Then  he  went  to  McKeesport,  where  he  clerked  in  a 
general  store  until  1852,  when  he  went  to  Dravosburg,  accepting  a 
position  in  the  store  of  John  F.  Dravos,  in  whose  employ  he 
remained  until  1863.  In  that  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  father-in-law,  J.  C.  Risher,  and  began  operating  the  Amity 
coal  mines  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  C.  Risher  &  Co,  By  the 
death  of  Mr.  Risher  in  1899  the  firm  was  dissolved,  but  the  busi- 
ness was  continued  by  Mr.  Crump  as  S.  S.  Crump  &  Co.  until  1899, 
when  it  was  sold  to  the  Monongahela  River  consolidated  coal  and 
coke  company.  While  operating  the  Amity  mines,  Mr.  Crump  did 
an  extensive  and  profitable  business,  mining  some  2,500,000  bushels 
of  coal  annually,  which  he  shipped  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and 
New   Orleans.      He    also  shipped  a  great  deal  of  coal   for  other 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  553: 

mines,  and  during  this  period  conducted  a  general  store  at 
Dravosburg.  In  1903  the  State  bank  of  Dravosburg  was  organized, 
with  a  capital  of  $75,000.  Mr.  Crump  was  elected  president,  and 
since  that  time  has  ably  filled  that  position.  He  was  married,  on 
June  3,  1856,  to  Agnes,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Nancy  (McClure> 
Risher,  of  Dravosburg,  and  their  home  life  is  an  ideal  one.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  at  Dravosburg  he  has  served  many  years  as  post- 
master under  the  different  administrations,  and  when  the  borough 
of  Dravosburg  was  incorporated  in  1903,  was  elected  its  first 
burgess.  He  is  exceedingly  prominent  in  financial  circles,  being 
vice-president  of  the  Tradesmen's  National  bank  of  Pittsburg,, 
president  of  the  Dravosburg  bridge  company,  director  in  the 
McKeesport  title  and  trust  company,  treasurer  of  the  Richland 
cemetery  company,  and  trustee  of  the  J.  C.  Risher  estate. 

CHARLES  WILLIAM  ALLEBRAND,  the  pioneer  funeral 
director  of  Duquesne,  Pa.,  was  born  in  McKeesport,  Pa.,  June  26, 
1862,  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Nicholaus)  Allebrand,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  John  and  Margaret 
(Hach)  Allebrand,  who  came  to  America  in  1842,  and  shortly  after- 
wards settled  at  McKeesport,  where  his  grandfather  engaged  in 
butchering,  an  occupation  at  which  he  prospered  until  his  death  in 
1864.  His  wife  had  died  in  1861,  leaving  the  following  children,  viz.  \ 
Nicholaus.  John,  Philip,  and  Elizabeth,  the  latter  the  wife  of  George 
Kinzenbach.a  prominent  citizen  of  McKeesport.  Philip  Allebrand 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  as  a  private  in  Company  I, 
63d  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry;  was  promoted  to  a  corporal- 
ship,  and  served  as  such  until  his  death  in  the  fights  around  Peters- 
burg in  1864.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  was 
William  Nicholaus,  who  married  a  Miss  Schoeller,  both  natives  of 
Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  they  settled  at  McKeesport  in  the 
early  forties,  where  his  grandfather  was  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business  until  his  death.  John  Allebrand,  father  of  Charles  W., 
was  born  at  Charhesen-Steinhau,  Germany,  May  11,  1833,  and 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  States  in  1842.  In  1854  he 
went  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  butchers'  busi- 
ness, and  also  was  part  owner  of  a  gold-producing  mine,  and  in 
'iSdo  returned  to  McKeesport,  where  he  married  Rachel,  daughter 
of  William  Nicholaus,  of  that  city,  and  at  once  opened  a  meat- 
market.  He  conducted  the  market  with  much  success  until  1878, 
when  he  removed  to  his  farm  in  North  Versailles  township  and 
there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1890,  when  he  retired 


554  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

from  active  business,  and  now  makes  his  home  at  McKeesport, 
though  he  spends  much  of  his  time  in  traveling.  He  had  six  chil- 
dren that  grew  to  maturity,  viz. :  Charles  W.,  Margaret  (deceased), 
John  N. ;  Louisa,  wife  of  Frank  Hoag ;  Fredericka,  wife  of 
Charles  F.  DeLong,  and  George  A.  Mr.  AUebrand  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Aliquippa  lodge,  No.  375,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons;  his  religious  affiliations  are  with  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  in  his  political  opinions  and  associations  is  a  republican, 
Charles  W.  AUebrand  was  reared  in  McKeesport,  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city  and  at  Duff's  business  college,  of  Pitts- 
burg. Then  he  spent  two  years  in  a  mining  venture  in  Colorado, 
and  in  1889  located  at  Duquesne,  where  he  embarked  in  his  present 
business  of  undertaking,  and  has  since  continued  in  that  line  with 
much  success,  being  the  leading  funeral  director  of  that  com- 
munity. He  was  married,  on  Dec.  16,  1885,  to  Lida,  daughter  of 
James  and  Hetty  (Carpenter)  Michael,  of  North  Versailles  town- 
ship, and  a  member  of  a  prominent  family  of  western  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  AUebrand  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  viz. : 
Henrietta,  Carl  F.,  J.  George  and  J.  Neeland.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Duquesne,  and 
Mr.  AUebrand  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks.  Mr.  AUebrand  is  a  prominent  republican,  and  has  served 
as  school  director  of  the  borough  for  two  terms.  He  was  one  of 
the  promoters  and  organizers  of  the  Duquesne  electric  light  company 
and  president  of  that  corporation  for  three  years. 

MRS.  ANNA  T.  WINTERS,  of  Glenfield,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
woman  of  that  borough,  was  born  on  Oct.  17,  1852,  daughter  of 
Hugh  and  Wealtly  Annie  Luster.  She  was  married,  on  July  17, 
1873,  to  Alexander  Winters,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  John  W.,  who  was  born  Aug.  29,  1874,  and  mar- 
ried Jennie  Steward,  Jan.  15,  1901;  Blanche  R.,  born  Sept.  29,  1875, 
and  married  Charles  Vaughn,  Nov.  14,  1900;  Minas  T.,  born 
May  27,  1877,  and  married  Nellie  Walker,  Aug.  20,  1902;  Lula  M., 
born  July  17,  1880;  Lily  M.,  born  July  17,  1880;  Fern  E.,  born 
Oct.  20,  1883;  Olive  L.,  born  April  28,  1886,  and  Cuba  H.,  born  Nov. 
25,  1888.  Mrs.  Winters'  father,  Hugh  Luster,  was  the  son  of  Arthur 
Luster,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Allegheny  county  and 
a  soldier  in  the  patriot  army  during  the  struggles  of  the  colonies  to 
secure  independence  from  the  mother  country.  Hugh  Luster 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  first  entering  for  a  service  of  six 
months  and  later  enlisting  for  three  years,  during  which  service  he 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY   COUNTY  555 

received  a  gunshot  wound  that  entirely  severed  his  thumb  from 
his  hand.  This  wound  physically  incapacitated  him  for  service  and 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge,  returned  to  his  home  at 
Kilbuck,  now  known  as  Glenfield,  where  later  he  was  accidentally 
killed  by  a  moving  train.  Mrs.  Winters  had  four  sisters  and  an 
equal  number  of  brothers,  viz.  :  Mary,  Mellie,  Cordelia,  Sarah, 
Charles,  James,  Amos  and  Arthur.  Her  husband,  Alexander 
Winters,  is  the  son  of  Robert  Winters,  and  is  a  prosperous  and  suc- 
cessful plasterer  and  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Glenfield,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winters  have  reared  a  family  of  intelligent  and 
energetic  children,  supplied  them  with  every  necessity  and  given 
them  all  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  educational  institutions  of 
that  community. 

HENRY  D.  THOMSON,  superintendent  of  the  Nixon, 
Leesdale  and  Summer  Hill  coal  mines,  resides  with  his  family  on 
School  Hill  avenue,  Glendale,  Woodville  postoffice.  He  was  born 
at  McKeesport,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  2,  1858.  His  par- 
ents, Joseph  and  Jane  (Donaldson)  Thomson,  were  born  in  Scot- 
land, and  married  there,  the  father  being  engaged  in  sinking  mine 
shafts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Thomson  came  to  America  in  1856, 
settling  first  in  Allegheny,  later  at  McKeesport,  and  moving  thence 
to  Westmoreland  county.  Joseph  Thomson  was  an  able  mine  fore- 
man most  of  his  active  life.  He  died  July  8,  1897,  when  seventy- 
one  years  old.  His  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  a 
devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  respected  resi- 
dent of  North  Huntington  township,  Westmoreland  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  Thomson  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living,  viz. :  Grace,  wife  of  John  Shields,  a  book- 
keeper at  Robbins  Station,  Westmoreland  county;  Henry  D..  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  S.  P.  Radisbaugh,  of  Shaner 
Station;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Thomas,  of  McKeesport;  Jennie, 
now  Mrs.  Robert  Morrison,  of  Etna,  and  Guy,  an  engineer  in 
charge  of  the  power  plant  at  Woodville.  Henry  D.  Thomson  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Curry  institute,  Pittsburg, 
graduating  from  that  school  in  1888.  After  graduation  he  was 
employed  until  1897  as  mine  foreman  for  John  Blyth  &  Co.,  and 
then  came  to  Carnegie  as  mine  foreman  for  the  Pittsburg  coal  com- 
pany. On  Jan.  i,  1902,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
company's  interest  as  a  reward  for  faithful  and  efficient  services. 
Before  coming  to  Carnegie,   Mr.  Thomson  was  school  director  in 


556  MEArOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY- 

Westmoreland  county  for  six  years.  He  was  married,  Dec.  29, 
1889,  to  Miss  Christina  Torrence,  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  a  resi- 
dent of  America  since  1887.  Mrs.  Thomson  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Isabel  Torrence,  who  reside  in  Braddock,  where  Mr. 
Torrence  is  a  boiler-maker.  She  is  the  second  of  seven  living-  chil- 
dren. The  others  are:  Mrs.  Alexander  Kerr,  of  McKeesport;  John» 
a  foreman  of  the  boiler-makers  at  Braddock ;  Mrs.  C.  P.  Sanborn, 
of  Huntington,  W.  Va.  ;  William,  emplo5'ed  as  a  scalper  in  the 
Homestead  mills,  residing  in  Braddock;  Andrew,  learning  the 
machinists'  trade  at  Huntington,  W.  Va.,  and  James,  employed  at 
the  Westinghouse  plant  at  Wilmerding.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomson 
have  four  children:  Alexander,  Isabel,  Henry  and  William  T.  Mr. 
Thomson  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Carnegie.  Mr.  Thomson  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Malta,  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Eagle,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and  is 
chief  of  the  Order  of  Scottish  Clans.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a  republican. 

JOHN  SLOAN,  conductor  on  the  Pan  Handle  railway,  residing 
with  his  family  in  Carnegie,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Dec.  5,  1838.  His  parents,  Canada  and  Mary  (Williamson)  Sloan, 
were  both  born  in  Ireland  and  married  there.  They  came  to 
America  before  1830,  and  after  a  year's  residence  in  Quebec,  where 
they  landed,  came  to  Pittsburg,  and  from  there  moved  to  West- 
moreland county.  The  father  farmed  there  in  the  summer,  and 
in  the  winter  went  from  house  to  house,  plying  his  trade  as  a 
shoemaker.  He  died  Feb.  10,  1861,  when  about  fifty-one  years 
old,  and  his  wife  died  two  years  later  at  about  the  same  age.  They 
were  worthy  people,  respected  in  the  community  where  they  lived. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
viz. :  Joseph,  a  stone  contractor  of  Johnstown;  Sarah,  widow  of 
James  Galbreath,  residing  in  Johnstown;  Mary,  wife  of  Nathan 
Griffey,  a  farmer  in  Ligonier  valley,  Westmoreland  county; 
John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Matilda,  now  the  wife  of  Amel 
Boucher,  a  member  of  the  police  force  of  Johnstown,  and  Frank, 
a  passenger  conductor,  residing  in  Pittsburg.  The  others  died  in 
childhood.  John  Sloan  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Ligonier  township,  Westmoreland  county,  and  after  school  days 
learned  to  be  a  miller  and  followed  this  vocation  ten  years.  In 
1863  he  became  a  railroad  brakeman,  and  was  ten  months  later 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  557 

g'iven  charge  of  a  train  as  conductor.  He  has  been  on  the  pay-roll 
for  thirty-eight  years,  always  for  the  same  company,  with  the 
exception  of  five  months,  when  he  came  to  Carnegie  in  1870.  He 
has  been  in  many  wrecks  and  accidents,  but  has  escaped  injury  and 
is  still  hale  and  hearty,  although  one  of  the  oldest  conductors  on 
the  road.  Mr.  Sloan  is  a  genial,  pleasant  gentleman,  and  his  long 
service  testifies  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  employers. 
He  was  married  on  Dec.  5,  i860,  his  twenty-second  birthday. 

CHARLES  AMER  HAMILTON,  one  of  the  most  popular 
young  politicians  of  Allegheny  county,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of 
the  oldest  families  in  western  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  for  many  years  one  of  the  best-known  coal  operators  in 
the  vicinity  of  Pine  Run.  He  was  also  prominent  in  river  naviga- 
tion. Charles  A.  Hamilton  was  born  in  West  Elizabeth,  Jan.  17, 
1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Denny  P.  and  Sophia  J.  (Kelley)  Hamilton. 
His  father  served  with  distinction  in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now 
residing  at  Braddock,  Pa.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Amer 
Kelley,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  killed  in  battle. 
Charles  Hamilton  has  always  lived  in  Allegheny  county.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  entered  upon  his  business  career 
as  a  clerk.  At  the  present  time  he  holds  a  responsible  position  at 
Clairton.  As  a  political  worker  he  has  few  equals.  He  is  an 
excellent  mixer,  a  good  j-udge  of  human  nature,  fertile  in  resources, 
and  withal  a  young  man  of  cool  judgment.  He  is  a  republican, 
but  during  the  campaign  in  Allegheny  county  in  1902  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  citizens'  movement.  This  shows  that  he  places 
the  public  welfare  above  any  mere  question  of  party,  and,  with  his 
superior  ability,  genial  disposition  and  general  popularity,  there 
is  certainly  a  brilliant  future  awaiting  him. 

CHARLES  F.  KNODERER  (deceased),  of  Glenfield,  Pa.,  for 
many  years  a  prosperous  and  successful  blacksmith  of  that  borough, 
was  born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to 
America,  settled  at  Kilbuck,  now  Glenfield,  Pa.,  about  1844,  and 
after  a  long  and  prominent  career  died  on  March  13,  1880.  He 
was  the  son  of  Christian  and  Margaret  Knoderer,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  famous  soldier,  having  been  a  captain  under  the  great 
Napoleon  for  seventeen  years  and  accompanying  the  emperor  on  the 
Russian  campaign  with  386  men,  of  which  number  only  five 
returned  with  their  captain  to  France.  Christian  Knoderer  was  an 
expert   swordsman   and   fought   many  hand-to-hand  fights,  and  on 


558  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

one  occasion  was  severely  wounded  in  a  combat  with  three  men, 
armed  with  sabers,  whom  he  met  single-handed.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1844,  purchased  a  farm  of  106  acres  in  Ohio  town- 
ship, where  his  wife  was  born,  in  1804,  and  remained  on  his  farm 
until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Charles  F. 
Knoderer  also  upheld  the  family  reputation  for  military  prowess, 
participating  in  the  Civil  war  and  there  rendering  distinguished 
services  to  the  Union  army  for  two  years  and  making  a  splendid 
reputation  as  a  soldier.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Amelia 
Lauderbaugh,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
Albertiana,  Clara,  Christian,  Emma  and  Sarah  Elizabeth.  Mrs. 
Knoderer  was  the  daughter  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  Lauderbaugh, 
the  former  having  been  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  member  of 
Company  D,  63d  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  died 
while  in  the  service.  Charles  F.  Knoderer  was  a  man  of  fine  busi- 
ness ability  and  possessed  a  clear  conception  of  his  duty  to  his  fel- 
low-men, according  to  each  one  his  rights  and  privileges  and  living 
according  to  the  admonitions  of  the  Golden  Rule.  He  was  very 
popular  in  Glenfield,  where  he  was  widely  known,  and  enjoyed 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  entire  acquaintanceship. 

JOHN  BERKENBUSH,  of  Haysville,  Pa.,  a  well-known  citizen 
and  a  highly  successful  farmer,  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Cambria 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan,  25,  i860,  son  of  George  W.  and  Johanna  (Bradour) 
Berkenbush,  his  father  having  been  born  in  Germany,  coming  to 
America  in  1844  and  settling  in  Cumberland,  Md.,  where  he 
remained  for  several  years  and  then  removed  to  Johnstown,  Pa., 
where  he  died  in  1887.  The  elder  Berkenbush  was  a  baker  and 
miller,  and  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  career  to  the  latter 
calling.  His  parents  had  ten  children  born  to  them,  viz. : 
Elizabeth,  Henry,  Emma,  Mary,  Charles  F.,  John,  Anna, 
Catharine,  Carrie  and  George  W.,  of  whom  Elizabeth,  Henry  and 
Emma  are  deceased.  John  Berkenbush  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Johnstown  and  was  an  employe  of  the  Cambria  steel 
company  and  the  Pittsburg  steel  company  (limited)  during  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  was  a  cupola  foreman  in  the  works  of  the  Pitts- 
burg steel  company  for  four  years;  then  for  fourteen  years  was 
night  superintendent  of  the  Schoenberger  works  of  Pittsburg,  and 
now  resides  on  his  fine  farm  in  Aleppo  township,  where  he  is 
pleasantly  and  profitably  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr. 
Berkenbush  was  happily  married  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and  Martha  Murphy,  Sept.  5,  1888,  and  they  have  had  seven 


MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  559 

children,  viz.  :  John  B.  (deceased),  George  W.,  Edna  B.,  Mabel  I., 
Charles  F.,  Clarence  and  Kenneth.  He  Is  identified  with  two 
fraternal  orders,  holding  membership  in  the  Maccabees  and  the 
Masons  and  being  in  close  sympathy  with  their  high  objects  and 
purposes. 

DAVID  FRANKLIN  BAIR,  of  Homestead,  Pa.,  a  prominent 
contractor  and  builder,  was  born  near  Greensburg,  Pa.,  Feb.  27, 
1844,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Catherine  (Shuey)  Bair,  both  natives 
of  Westmoreland  county.  Pa.  His  father  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  that  county,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life  and  there  died  in  1901, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  viz, :  Isaac,  Jacob;  Susannah,  wife  of  George  Smail; 
David  Franklin,  Hannah;  Kate,  wife  of  Jerry  Congaware ;  Joseph 
and  Emanuel.  David  F.  Bair  was  reared  in  his  native  county  and 
educated  in  its  common  schools.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  as  a 
carpenter,  worked  as  a  joiner  for  four  years  and  for  several  years 
was  engaged  in  contracting  at  Greensburg.  In  1879  he  came  to 
Homestead  as  foreman  in  the  McClean  planing  mill,  where  he 
remained  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  became  foreman  of  the 
carpenter  department  of  the  Homestead  steel  works.  Since  1900 
Mr.  Bair  has  been  following  contracting  and  building  with  much 
success  and  has  erected  some  of  the  handsomest  structures  in 
Homestead.  He  was  married,  in  1873,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Abner  and  Mary  A.  (Kestler)  Evans,  of  Greensburg,  and  they  are 
consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Bair  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  of  the 
republican  party. 

WILLIAM  GRAY,  tax  collector  of  Homestead,  and  prominent 
real  estate  and  insurance  agent,  is  the  son  of  John  S.  and  Cather- 
ine (Jenkins)  Gray,  and  was  born  at  Banksville,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  Nov.  4,  1872.  His  father  was  a  native  of  England  and  his 
mother  of  Wales.  His  maternal  grandfather,  William  Jenkins,  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  the  South  Side,  Pittsburg,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  shoemaker.  John  S.  Gray,  the  father 
of  William,  came  from  England  in  1869  and  settled  in  Allegheny 
county.  For  about  fifteen  years  he  was  employed  in  the  mines, 
but  in  1885  he  removed  to  Homestead  and  since  that  time  has  been 
connected  with  the  Homestead  steel  works.  He  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  They  are:  Isaac,  William, 
Thomas,  John  and  Anna.     William  Gray  was  educated  in  the  public 


560  MEMOIRS    OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY 

schools  of  Allegheny  county  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he 
■entered  the  Bryce  glass  works,  where  he  remained  as  an  employe 
for  eight  years.  He  then  became  interested  in  base-ball  and  for 
the  next  five  years  played  with  various  clubs.  From  1898  to  1903 
he  was  employed  in  the  Homestead  steel  works.  In  the  spring  of 
1903  he  was  elected  tax  collector  of  Homestead  by  a  decisive 
-majority.  Upon  taking  his  oiifice  he  also  embarked  in  the  real 
•estate  and  insurance  business.  He  was  married,  Nov.  19,  1896,  to 
Estella  L.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Louisa  (Wietz)  Stemmler,  of 
Homestead,  and  they  have  four  children:  Naomi  A.,  Ruth  L.,  Ella 
€.  and  Charles  S.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Homestead.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Homestead 
lodge.  No.  479,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  uniform  rank  of  the 
same  order.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  as  such  was  elected 
tax  collector. 

THOMAS  MERRIMAN,  of  Glenfield,  Pa.,  a  successful  and 
prosperous  farmer,  was  born  on  Jan.  2,  1842,  and  has  devoted  the 
major  part  of  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Civil  war,  first  enlisting  for  three  years  in  Company  C,  6ist 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  infantry,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
service  re-enlisting  for  the  remainder  of  the  war  in  Company  E  of 
the  same  regiment.  He  was  in  many  of  the  leading  battles,  par- 
ticipating in  the  fights  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  White  Oak 
Swamps,  seven  days  around  Richmond,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
•Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness,  Cold  Harbor  and  Petersburg,  and  also 
served  under  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  and  with.  Grant 
at  the  capture  of  Richmond,  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  returned  to  his  home,  and  on  Nov.  14,  1873, 
married  Mary  Eckerman,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Pansy  (deceased),  Frank,  Albert,  Josephine,  Perry,  Catharine, 
Mary,  Jacob,  Thomas  and  Archie.  Mrs.  Merriman  died  on 
April  21,  1893,  and  is  sincerely  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  admirers.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject,  Samuel 
Merriman,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Allegheny  county  and 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  what  is  now  Aleppo  township.  He 
was  a  soldier  of  the  patriot  army  during  the  struggles  of  the 
colonies  for  independent  government,  and  his  remains  are  buried 
in  the  family  cemetery  on  the  Merriman  farm,  which  is  one  of  the 
oldest  burying-grounds  in  Allegheny  county  and  in  which  all  of 
Mr.  Merriman's  grandparents  are  interred. 


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